Crosstown Showdown XI- Day 3 Game 1

The final day of this year’s Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown got started on a hot day and featured a hot team in defending division two state champions Anderson High School. The Redskins got off to a quick start and never looked back as they rolled along to beat Taft Senators in their season opener 56-6.

Anderson junior running back Kyle Slater got Anderson started on the right foot as he returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for an early touchdown. Slater stayed hot (his first two carries resulted in two Anderson touchdowns) and left the game with five carries for 55 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 150 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns on the day.

Solely behind Slater Anderson jumped out to an early 22-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, and the momentum stayed with the Redskins throughout the game. Junior running back Justin Racer blocked a Taft punt, resulting in an Anderson TD. Taft quarterback Cameron Mitchell had a second quarter pass deflected and land in the arms of Anderson junior defensive back Jason Bruner, leading to yet another Anderson touchdown drive. Anderson senior quarterback Daniel Rod hooked up with senior wide out Jason Bruner for an 84-yard touchdown strike to cap off the half and go into halftime holding a 49-0 lead for the Redskins.

Rod need not return for the second half, and finished the game 5-of-5 passing for 138 yards and the one touchdown. Bruner caught two backward passes along with the 84-yarder to officially record two rushes for 18 yards and another touchdown.

Things didn’t get much better for Taft in the second half, though Mitchell did throw a 27-yard touchdown strike to junior wide receiver Shantez Johnson with just over seven minutes left in the third quarter. Johnson led the way for Senator receivers, totaling 50 yards on three receptions. Mitchell finished the contest 11-of-25 passing for 104 yards, one touchdown, and two interception. Quick on his feet, Mitchell scrambled for 38 yards on 11 carries.

Junior running back Delmarco Williams led the ground attack for Taft with 17 carries and 69 yards.

But the top story in this one was Anderson’s more than impressive offensive onslaught, as the defending DII state champs got off to a good start on their title defense.