LI Lutheran falls to Baltimore Lutheran, 36-35

The date may disagree, but the Long Island Lutheran football team knew that yesterday's season-opening matchup against Baltimore Lutheran was a big game. Without a league and, thus, no hope of the playoffs, Lu-Hi has made this annual battle against its namesake the prime matchup.

So their heartbreaking 36-35 loss to Baltimore, in which they blew a late lead, was a little more heartbreaking.

"It was ... ugh!" said running back Jordan Channer, dejected despite rushing for 144 yards and three touchdowns. "I can't even explain how everyone felt. To lose by such a margin, one point ... It's become a good rivalry so it's a game we consider a must-win."

The Crusaders led by 13 with seven minutes remaining, but Baltimore rallied. Aaron Armes threw a 20-yard touchdown to pull them within six and, with 5:47 left, these Saints also attempted and recovered a surprise onside kick to set up the go-ahead score.

John Nunez ran a stretch play off left tackle, eluded a defender and broke free for a 22-yard scamper that gave Baltimore the lead with 3:06 left.

With starting quarterback Rob Waldman out with leg cramps, Lu-Hi drove to the Saints' 35, but stalled, in part, because of two pre-snap penalties. The drive ended with an interception on fourth-and-10 with 58 seconds left.

"The crowd [of 800] was going crazy so maybe it was difficult to hear the snap count and it was probably a little bit of nerves, too," coach Chris Reno said.

Lu-Hi was also done in by Armes, who threw for 180 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score.

Tyquan Garner added 57 yards and two touchdowns for the Crusaders. Morris Brailsford had six tackles, a sack and forced a fumble, Traishawn Hubbard had a fumble recovery and Mike Valencia made a team-high seven stops.

The production on the ground is one positive to be extracted from the loss, Reno said.

The Lutheran Cup was established 10 years ago when Lu-Hi Assistant Principal Andy Gove, then with Baltimore Lutheran, started that school's football program. He and Reno, old college buddies, decided to have an annual contest with the winner being awarded a trophy. Lu-Hi has claimed it five times.

"We have no league play, no conference title, no playoffs," Reno said, "so we had to establish a rivalry ... We were on a charter bus at 7 o'clock to get there."

They can't dwell on the loss, though, Channer said. Instead, the Crusaders will turn their attention to Saturday's home opener against Cardinal Spellman.