Crowley Middle cruises past St. Michael in annual Rice Bowl

CROWLEY – Crowley Middle School Gents did something Tuesday that they hadn’t been able to do in three years – beat the St. Michael Saints in the city’s annual Rice Bowl.
The Gents, who finished the season with a 10-1 record, scored early and often to reclaim the coveted Rice Bowl trophy with a 44-13 thrashing of the Saints at Gardiner Memorial Stadium.
The Saints, Catholic League runnersup, finished with a mark of 7-3.
CMS quarterback Paul Dugar got the Gents on the board on the first play of the game when he raced 70 yards for a touchdown. Anthony Wilson added the two-point conversion run to give the hosts an 8-0 advantage.
The Gents defense got in on the action minutes later when Saints’ quarterback Collin Kirsch was sacked, forcing a fumble. CMS’ Jeremy Johnson picked up the loose ball and rambled 35 yards for another touchdown to push the lead to 14-0.
The Saints got on the board on their next possession when tailback Garrett Cormier slipped in the end zone from six yards out. Thomas Stevens added the PAT to trim the lead to 14-7.
The Gents punched in two more touchdowns in the second quarter. Dugar scored on a 55-yard run and, later, Wilson broke free on a 55-yard touchdown run. Dugar added a two-point conversion run on the second touchdown to give the Gents a 28-7 lead.
The Saints responded just before the end of the half when Kirsch connected with tight end Ben Faulk on a 20-yard touchown strike to cut the lead to 28-13.
That, however, was as close as the Saints would get.
Wilson added a 10-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and Desmond Harmon converted on the two-point conversion to increase the lead to 36-13.
Dugar then connected with Chris Lewis for a 40-yard touchdown strike in the fourth quarter. Devonte Joseph ran in the two-point conversion to complete the scoring for the night.
Dugar provided most of the damage for the Gents. He picked up 181 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries while also completing two passes for 67 yards and another touchdown.
Wilson followed with eight carries for 99 yards and two touchdowns and Joseph had four carries for 11 yards. Josh Burnette picked up 15 yards on four carries and Jai’rece Lewis added one carry for two yards.
Lewis had one reception for 40 yards and a touchdown and Rapheus Joseph had one catch for 27 yards.
For the Gents, their 10-1 season is the most successful in the school’s history. They averaged 35 points per game while their defense allowed just 11.