By JIM RUMBLE

Terrible would be the word to describe the cold, damp and rainy conditions that prevailed when the Northgate Flames played Bishop Canevin at Dormont Stadium last Friday.

It also would be used to describe Northgate’s field position on almost all of their offensive possessions, a situation that helped the Crusaders easily whip the Flames 31-0.

While registering two field goals, Canevin kicker Drake Greer boomed almost all of his kick-offs into the end zone or at the goal line to force the Flames’ offense to play on a much longer field.

"We moved the ball up and down the field but their weapon was their kicker, we had to play on an 80 yard field all night long," said Northgate head coach Mike Pipak.

Penalties also were part of the Flames’ undoing, the most costly ones occurring at the start of the game.

Northgate's Josh Ellis returned the opening kick-off to the Flames’ 45, but a holding penalty forced the offense to start from their own 10 yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, quarterback Jon Girvin threw short to Pat Carr, who then rambled 90 yards for a Northgate touchdown. The TD was unfortunately no good because the Flames again were guilty of holding.

Girvin had the offense moving with two completions to Ellis and one catch by Mark Wilson, but the drive soon ended with a fumble that Canevin recovered on the Flames’ 36.

Although both teams were assessed personal foul penalties on the short drive, the Crusaders cashed in with a 23-yard field goal by Greer, who claimed the record for most field goals at Canevin and a 3-0 lead.

Northgate's next possession started from their own 11, but ended when Girvin's deep pass on third down was intercepted to put Canevin on offense at the Flames’ 49.

The Crusaders drove the ball in six plays, ending the drive with a 2-yard TD run before Josh Ellis' block on the point after attempt had the Flames behind 9-0.

Ellis followed his exceptional play with another when he returned the ensuing kick-off 73 yards to the Canevin 27 yard line. Northgate picked up a first down, but the possession ended with an incomplete pass on fourth down, giving Canevin the ball on their own 15. The Crusaders struck quickly, completing a pass out to the 50 yard line that the receiver took the distance to complete an 85-yard touchdown.

Canevin's miss on the PAT had Northgate trailing 15-0 with 8:36 left in the second quarter.

The Crusaders took advantage of another Northgate fumble recovered at the Flames’ 36 with 2:01 to play until halftime. They picked up two first downs before settling for a 20-yard field goal to claim an 18-0 lead at the half.

Northgate's fate became apparent when Canevin opened the third quarter with a four-minute drive that ended with a 25-yard TD pass to up the lead to 24-0.

Late in the third quarter, the Crusaders ended a 34-yard drive in three plays with a 17-yard TD run to put the final score at 31-0.

Northgate's Chris Mangel was quite active on defensive for the Flames, as were Carr, Ryan Castleberry, Antwane Brock and Josh Schultheis.