Columbus Crusaders is preparing for their first conference matchup of the season on Saturday. They will head out on the road to face off against the Noblesville L Lions at 7:00 p.m. The teams are on pretty different trajectories at the moment (Columbus Crusaders has four straight wins, Noblesville L has three straight defeats), but none of that matters once you're on the field.
Columbus Crusaders' defense heads into the game hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Saturday. They took their matchup with ease, bagging a 39-0 victory over Northern Virginia HomeSchool. Columbus Crusaders' defense has been rock solid lately; the team hasn't given up a point in their last four contests.
Ezekiel Bowie
| 09/20/25 vs Northern Virginia HomeSchool | 4 |
| 09/13/25 vs Phalen Leadership Academy | 4 |
| 09/06/25 vs Grand Valley Christian P | 3 |
| 08/30/25 @ Peebles | 5 |
It was another big night for Ezekiel Bowie, who rushed for 255 yards and four TDs while picking up 15.0 yards per carry. He is on a roll when it comes to rushing touchdowns, as he's now punched in three or more in each of the last four games he's played. Matthew Colaizzi was another key player, throwing for 98 yards and a pair of touchdowns while completing 75% of his passes.
Wins are hard to come by when you can't run the rock, something Columbus Crusaders proved: they limited Northern Virginia HomeSchool to a paltry 3.2 yards per carry. The team can thank Jonathon Wolfe for the heroic effort on defense: he. That's the most yards per carry they've managed all season.
Columbus Crusaders' defense didn't let Sheppard Jones., get away unscathed either: they got into the backfield for three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Davier Lewis, Justin Bauer, and Marcos Stoner, who each picked up one sack apiece.
Meanwhile, Noblesville L played a tough game on Saturday in which they were outscored in every quarter. They had to suffer through a 48-12 loss at the hands of Osceola Grace Eagles. The Lions were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 41-12.
Columbus Crusaders' win bumped their record up to 4-1. As for Noblesville L, their loss dropped their record down to 1-4.
Everything came up roses for Columbus Crusaders against Noblesville L in their previous matchup back in October of 2024, as the squad secured a 33-3 victory. In that matchup, Columbus Crusaders amassed a halftime lead of 26-3, an impressive feat they'll look to repeat on Saturday.
