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Crompton leads undefeated Tuscola by winless Mustangs
Tuscola's Jonathan Crompton is ranked as one of the top quarterbacks in the country and has verbally committed to play for Tennessee.
Friday at C.E. Weatherby Stadium in Waynesville, Crompton showed he is much more than a passer as he scored four touchdowns in three different manners leading his team to a 41-14 romp past Smoky Mountain.
Crompton ran for two touchdowns, threw for another and returned an interception for a TD in the Mountain Athletic Conference game as the Mountaineers (5-0, 3-0) stayed unbeaten while keeping the Mustangs (0-7, 0-4) winless.
Smoky Mountain's Abram Scott caught six passes for 119 yards in Friday's 41-14 loss to Tuscola. Also pictured are Zack Watson (23) and Tyson Crawford (2). – Photo by Mark Haskett
Crompton completed 15 of 26 passes for 199 yards and ran seven times for 83 yards. His numbers would have been even more impressive if not for several dropped passes by receivers.
Patrick Fitzgerald caught four passes for 76 yards, and Luther Dyer had five receptions for 57 yards.
Adam Davis gained 130 yards on the ground in 20 attempts.
The Mustangs were limited to 53 rushing yards but tried to strike back through the air. Tyson Crawford gave SM a spark as he saw his first action at quarterback this season in the fourth quarter and completed five of 11 passes for 132 yards and two TDs.
Starter Matt Hawkins was seven of 17 for 121 yards.
Abram Scott had six catches for 199 yards and a TD. Matt Gibson also had a score with four catches totaling 87 yards.
The Mounties led 21-0 at halftime although they squandered a couple of scoring opportunities.
After being stopped on downs at the SM 20 on the game's first possession, Tuscola moved 54 yards in six plays to get on the board the second time it had the ball. Crompton completed passes to Fitzgerald for 14 and 26 yards setting up Crompton's 5-yard scoring run. Will Teague kicked the first of his five extra points for a 7-0 lead with 5:28 to go in the first quarter.
The Mustangs started inside their 10 following a penalty on the kickoff return, and a shanked punt put the Mounties in business at the SM 27. Six plays later, Crompton hit Chrys Bryant for a 10-yard TD and a 14-0 margin with 1:42 left in the first period.
Crompton passes of 33 yards to Fitzgerald and 19 yards to Dyer helped Tuscola reach the 10, but Teague missed a 28-yard field goal.
After an exchange of punts, Crompton made his presence felt on defense as he picked off Hawkins' pass and returned it 20 yards to paydirt and a 21-0 advantage with 2:12 remaining in the half.
Smoky Mountain's Matt Ogden recovers a fumble by Tuscola's Derek Whitmire (7) to set up SM's first touchdown in Friday's 41-14 loss. – Photo by Mark Haskett
The Mustangs appeared to have scored just before halftime as Scott caught a short pass from Hawkins and raced down the sidelines for what would have been a 52-yard scoring play. However, an illegal block at the 6 nullified the TD and moved the ball back to the 16. Four straight incompletions ended the threat.
With only three first downs in the opening half, SM gambled shortly after intermission as Gibson picked up 3 yards on a fake punt to convert a third-and-1 from his 37. Moments later, the Mustangs committed a turnover with Andrew Pryor recovering Randall Crowe's fumble at the SM 46.
Tuscola scored in five plays with Crompton running the ball in from 28 yards out after a 15-yard gain by Davis. Teague missed the PAT leaving the score 27-0 with 7:37 to go in the third stanza.
A 40-yard pass from Hawkins to Cory Siler helped the Mustangs reach the 19 where they yielded possession on downs.
The Mounties marched 81 yards in nine plays to take a 34-0 lead when Davis scored from 6 yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter. The drive included runs of 12 and 14 yards by Davis along with a Crompton run of 27 yards and his 17-yard pass to Dyer.
Crawford entered the game and completed a 30-yard pass to Scott. Matt Moore then ripped off a 23-yard run to the 5. However, Crawford fumbled when he was hit behind the line of scrimmage, and Dyer recovered at the 21.
Tuscola gave the ball right back when Matt Ogden recovered a fumble by reserve quarterback Derek Whitmire at the 35. Crawford's 23-yard TD pass to Scott put the Mustangs on the board at the 5:10 mark. Bryan Mand's extra point made it 34-7.
Adam Hambleton returned an onside kick 23 yards to the SM 30. Davis gained 21 yards on the first play then scored from the 9 for a 41-7 lead with 4:36 on the clock.
The Mustangs scored again with 2:54 remaining on a 30-yard pass from Crawford to Gibson. Mand's PAT accounted for the 41-14 final. The 51-yard drive included a 14-yard run by Crawford.
SM Tuscola
13 First Downs 20
32-53 Rushes-Yds. 39-268
12-28-1 Passing 15-26-0
253 Passing Yds. 199
4-29.3 Punts-Avg. 2-35.0
4-2 Fumbles-Lost 3-1
4-28 Penalties-Yds. 9-81
SM 0 0 0 14 14
Tuscola 14 7 6 14 41
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