Crossings Christian Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's the month of July and that means it's preview time! Throughout the month of July, we are publishing 100 team previews to get you ready for the 2022 season. This is something that began last year and has become even bigger and better this year. We're looking forward to diving deep into the top teams across the state. From defending champs, to top contenders and dark horses, we'll have complete coverage every single day with new teams from Class 6A down to A. In this post, we take a look at the Crossings Christian Knights. Crossings would make a run to the quarterfinals a year ago and they're looking to do it again this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>Crossings Christian Knights (2A Preseason Ranking: #8)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crossings Christian comes into the 2022 season as the #8 team in our Class 2A preseason rankings. The Knights are looking to build momentum coming off their 2021 campaign, which saw them win ten games and make it all the way to the 2A quarterfinal round. Despite a 2-2 start to the season, the Knights would win their next eight games before running into a Beggs buzzsaw in the quarterfinals. Crossings Christian finished off the year with a 10-3 record and they bring back the majority of their starters so there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the upcoming season for the Knights. Crossings will also look a little different on the offensive side of the ball. Last year, they had an excellent passing attack but they could very well be a run-first team this year with the production they return in that department.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leading the way are two running backs returning from last year's team to boost the offense while the team works in a new quarterback. They return a total of seven starters on the offensive side of the ball so the combination of offensive linemen returning, along with their two-headed monster at running back, they'll have an explosive rushing attack that has a chance to produce two 1,000 yard rushers. They also return seven starters on the defensive side of the ball so they should be very improved from last year as they head into the 2022 season. The biggest hurdle for the Knights will be their district. It was tough last season and it's tough once again this year. They have two other district foes that are also ranked in the 2A preseason rankings, plus a team like Chandler that beat Crossings last year and could be a top ten team at some point this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2021 Results (10-3 Record - Lost In Class 2A Quarterfinals)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 27 - Beat Community Christian 23-6<br>Sept. 10 - Lost To Oklahoma Christian School 9-0<br>Sept. 17 - Beat Casady 43-6<br>Sept. 24 - Lost To Chandler 18-16<br>Oct. 1 - Beat Star Spencer 72-12<br>Oct. 8 - Beat Jones 38-29<br>Oct. 14 - Beat Prague 37-22<br>Oct. 22 - Beat Kellyville 42-12<br>Oct. 29 - Beat Meeker 49-16<br>Nov. 5 - Beat Millwood 30-14<br>1st Round - Beat Alva 48-22<br>2nd Round - Beat Lindsay 55-20<br>Quarterfinal - Lost To Beggs 48-12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"align":"center","className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator aligncenter has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Key Losses To Graduation</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Drew Taylor - Wide Receiver/Linebacker<br>Drew Wood - Quarterback<br>Logan McGowan - Wide Receiver/Linebacker<br>Mason Snyder - Wide Receiver/Defensive Back</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players To Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='390882' first='Blake' last='Meek'] - 2023 Linebacker<br></strong>One of the big returning starters from last year is 2023 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='390882' first='Blake' last='Meek']. He'll be the leader of the defense and one of the better linebackers going into this season. Meek finished last year with 116 tackles with 26 of those tackles coming behind the line of scrimmage. We think that Meek will be a big boost to this defense as they have some opponents on the schedule that have some rather explosive offenses. Having an experienced player like Meek back will definitely help the Crossings defense as they look to contend once again for the district championship. We expect Meek to replicate his numbers from last year as he was a tackling machine. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='390883' first='Justin' last='Walraven'] - 2023 Running Back<br></strong>We mentioned that Crossings could be a really strong running team this fall. The first of two 2023 running backs to watch out for is 2023 running back [player_tooltip player_id='390883' first='Justin' last='Walraven']. Out of the two backs that return with experience, you have to consider Walraven to be the bigger playmaker when you look at his production. Walraven finished with nearly 800 yards and nine touchdowns on the season. But every time he touched the ball, he was averaging over 8 yards per carry. While the other Crossings running back that is returning is more of a power back, Walraven will provide some playmaking ability and the ability to turn a short play into a touchdown in the blink of an eye.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='390884' first='Silas' last='Ward'] - 2023 Running Back/Linebacker<br></strong>The other Crossings running back returning is fellow 2023 running back [player_tooltip player_id='390884' first='Silas' last='Ward']. He won't be an every down back as he also starts for the Knights on defense at linebacker. Ward will be a boost on the offense when Walraven isn't on the field and he showed that last season. He finished with over 650 yards on the ground and tied Walraven with nine touchdowns on the ground. But on defense, Ward also finished with nearly 100 tackles as a junior last season. As we've mentioned, this Crossings Christian offense definitely has the potential to be a very run-heavy team this year when you look at the talent they have returning on that side of the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>More Names To Know</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bennett Baker - 2025 Athlete<br>Cole Taylor - 2024 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Holden Manchester - 2026 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>Jonah Neher - 2025 Running Back/Linebacker<br>Nate Rouse - 2024 Athlete</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 Schedule/Games To Circle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 2 - Hennessey<br>Sept. 9 - AT Community Christian<br>Sept. 16 - Casady<br>Sept. 23 - AT Luther<br><strong>Sept. 30 - Jones<br></strong>- When Crossings Christian beat Jones in week six last season, that was the first step to them rattling off ten wins and making it to the quarterfinals. They knocked off the Longhorns in a competitive game and we expect these two to have another competitive clash this season. The Longhorns are the highest ranked team within this district as we head into the season but Crossings proved that preseason rankings mean nothing when you get to the halfway point of the regular season. Crossings will attempt to slow down Jones' passing attack. They will have a new quarterback but he's already emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the state's 2024 class. The Knights will look to limit what Jones can do on offense and a win will put them in good position to capture the district crown.<br>Oct. 7 - AT Star Spencer<br>Oct. 13 - AT Chandler<br><strong>Oct. 21 - Bethel<br></strong>- The other district foe that is also ranked in the 2A preseason rankings is Bethel. The bright side of playing in a tough district is arguably the toughest games are all going to be at home. That includes the Jones match-up in week five and also this week eight clash with Bethel. And just like with the Jones clash, Crossings Christian will need to be ready to see a team with a strong passing attack. Bethel has to replace their star running back but brings back a young quarterback that is already on the 2025 radar. Bethel is a new district foe and will definitely give the Knights a big challenge in week eight. However, if Crossings finds themselves unbeaten in district play and then they get a win here, they'll be very close to locking up the district crown.<br>Oct. 28 - AT Meeker<br>Nov. 4 - Kellyville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crossings Christian wrote another page in their football history book last season. The Knights won their first ever playoff game in Class 2A. The first ever playoff appearance came in 2014. They got their first playoff win in 2018. They would make the quarterfinals that season as well, just like last season. Crossings is looking to become one of the top teams in Class 2A and become that consistent contender for not only playoff appearances but deep runs in the playoffs. Crossings made that quarterfinal run last year and they're looking to replicate that and also go further. The Knights come in as the #8 team in our Class 2A rankings and if they navigate their district and capture the district title, they'll have an easier path in the 2A playoffs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Championship History</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>0 State Championships</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->