(Copyright, Sports on CT-69)
In the high school football state playoffs, there are memorable performances. And then there was the one turned in by Holy Cross senior Marques Campbell on a cold Tuesday night in Hartford.
All Campbell did was rush 38 times – yup, 38 times – for 280 yards and four touchdowns as the sixth-seeded Crusaders punched their ticket to the Class M semifinal round with a 40-22 win over third-seeded SMSA/Bulkeley/Classical at Weaver High School. Holy Cross (8-3) goes to second-seeded Rockville (10-1), a 14-13 winner over seventh-seeded Berlin, on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at Rockville High School. Rockville, like SMSA, is from the Pequot Football Conference.
Campbell scored on runs of 46, 6, 4 and 3 yards. The Crusader offensive line continuously opened huge holes for Campbell, who hit them with quick bursts of speed. On the 46-yard touchdown, Campbell took the handoff from Drew Caouette, ran up the middle, then quickly cut outside to the sideline, and he was gone. Campbell was also untouched on his six-yard touchdown.
Caouette threw a touchdown pass to Nicholas Damato and Nate Craft scored on a short run. Holy Cross forced four turnovers, including three interceptions.
