Jackson Crawford dreamed of making big plays for Cretin-Derham Hall this season but never imagined doing so as a defender.

Crawford, a top quarterback last fall, was switched to linebacker for his senior year. Replacement Danny Callahan threw two touchdown passes in a 19-14 upset victory against Roseville. But Crawford cemented the pivotal victory Wednesday with a sack and forced fumble.

No. 10 Cretin-Derham Hall (6-2) muddied the playoff picture with its fourth consecutive victory, becoming a strong candidate to earn the top seed in Class 6A, Section 4.

“We deserve it, for sure,” Crawford said.

Crawford deserves credit for accepting a position switch.

“I’d never played defense before but I took the challenge head-on,” Crawford said.

The same approach created his big play in the the fourth quarter of the regular-season finale at the University of St. Thomas. No. 6 Roseville (6-2) drove the ball inside the Cretin-Derham Hall 20-yard line looking for a go-ahead touchdown.

Quarterback Luke Bouchart dropped back and Crawford pounced.

“I went in head first and right at the last second I saw the ball in front of my face so I tried to swat it out,” Crawford said.

Matthew Cunningham recovered at the Cretin-Derham Hall 18-yard line with 2:15 left and Roseville’s potent offense never saw the ball again.

Roseville squandered two comeback chances. Max Sandin broke up a fourth-down pass near the goal line but the ensuing Roseville drive ended with a failed fourth down run at the Cretin-Derham Hall 2-yard line.

A short Cretin-Derham Hall punt gave Roseville the ball just 43 yards from the end zone. But Crawford penetrated the pocket and stripped Bouchart.
Roseville also failed to execute late in the first half. Trailing 12-7, Roseville started from its 17-yard line with 1:33 to go but was called for delay a game and then allowed a sack.

On 4th-and-22, Cretin-Derham Hall deflected a punt out of bounds at Roseville’s 23-yard line.

One play later, Callahan hit Jacob Prince in the middle of the Roseville defense for a touchdown with five seconds left.

“We’ve got some real weapons on offense,” Sandin said. “We might not have shown it tonight but I think we can get it going again in the playoffs.”
Cretin-Derham Hall moved one of its top offensive weapons and is better for the decision.

“Coach Brooks [Bollinger] decided to put me and our team in the best position to make something happen,” Crawford said. “I think of myself as a better athlete than quarterback so I was able to adjust pretty quick.”

Cretin-Derham Hall muddied the Class 6A playoff picture with its 19-14 upset victory against Roseville.

No. 10 Cretin-Derham Hall (6-2) won its fourth consecutive game Wednesday and became a strong candidate to earn the top seed in Section 4.

No. 6 Roseville (6-2) stumbled in the game at the University of St. Thomas and lost its bid for a top seed in the process. A Jackson Crawford forced fumble took away Roseville’s final scoring chance.

Leading 19-7 at halftime, Cretin-Derham Hall’s first drive of the third quarter started well as Tony Underwood chewed up yards on the ground. Roseville bent but didn’t break, however, as Gary Smith intercepted a pass in the end zone.

Another big play got Roseville back in the game. Quarterback Luke Bouchart hit Zachary Andrade on the screen pass and a wall of blockers sprang Andrade down the field. He kept churning and cutting all the way to a 57-yard touchdown and Roseville cut its deficit to 19-14 at 2:41 of the third quarter.

Cretin-Derham Hall built its halftime lead with a pair of first-quarter touchdowns and a third with five seconds left in the half.

Quarterback Danny Callahan hit Peter Udoibok along the sideline and the receiver took it from there for a 59-yard touchdown and 6-0 lead.

A fumble on Roseville’s ensuing possession gave Cretin-Derham Hall the ball on Roseville’s 32-yard line. Underwood capped the short drive with a 5-yard scoring run.

Roseville responded with a long drive to open the second quarter, highlighted by a trio of fourth-down conversions. The second came courtesy of a Cretin-Derham Hall pass interference penalty. The third was a 15-yard line pass from Bouchart to Smith on a slant route for a touchdown.

Trailing 12-7, Roseville got the ball at its 17-yard line with 1:33 to go in the first half. Things unraveled from there as Roseville got called for delay a game and then Cretin-Derham Hall sacked Bouchart.

On 4th and 22, Roseville’s punt was deflected by a Cretin-Derham Hall player. The play gave Cretin-Derham Hall a first down at Roseville’s 23-yard line.

One play later Callahan hit Jacob Prince in the middle of the Roseville defense for a touchdown with five seconds left on the clock.