Christian Mielcarek / For The ItemREADING – The battle for second place in the Catholic Central League Large between Bishop Fenwick and Austin Prep appeared potentially lopsided heading into the holiday rumble and for a while, that’s just how things went.Peabody’s Pat Delaney catapulted Austin Prep to a 20-0 lead with 3:03 remaining in the second quarter, but wasn’t ready to roll over. The Crusaders scored atouchdown on its final drive of the first half and another on its first drive of the second to pull within eight despite playing without their starting quarterback and running back due to injury.The Crusaders had three opportunities to orchestrate a game-tying score, but the Cougars (9-2), who had the CCL Large’s most stifling defense, lived up to their reputation by hanging on for a 20-12 win.”We’ve been a great defensive team all year,” said Cougar coach Bill Maradei, whose squad, along with Fenwick, was eliminated from CCL Large title contention by Arlington Catholic.”We’re not an offensive powerhouse, and their backs are real good. They’re a tough program, and it’s a tough Thanksgiving matchup.”Trailing by 20 and starting at their own 38, the Crusaders relied on the arm of sophomore quarterback Brett Kidik (7-for-15, 69 yards) to initiate their comeback. Kidik, making his second start since replacing junior Chris Renzulli, who broke his thumb in Fenwick’s win over St. Mary’s, connected on four of seven passes on the drive to lead his team to the Austin Prep 22. Kidik handed the ball to Kyle White on the ensuing play and the senior scampered 22 yards for his seventh touchdown of the season.Following a failed two-point conversion by the Crusaders, the momentum continued to shift when Cougar quarterback Ryan Havey (1-for-4, 50 yards, interception) was sacked by Zach Fitch on Austin’s final play of the half. Fenwick trailed 20-6.”There was not one guy who stepped onto the field who didn’t give everything he had,” Fenwick coach Dave Woods said. “It doesn’t matter what their record is. I’m proud they represent Bishop Fenwick.”Woods’ team began the second half with a possession any coach would be proud of. White (18 carries, 86 yards) and senior running back Dale Crispin (21 carries for 107 yards, five catches for 42 yards), both handled extra carries in place of the injured Dan Kennedy. They rushed a combined 10 times in the Crusaders’ 12-play, 59-yard drive. White’s 16-yard run on second-and-eight brought the ball inside the Austin Prep five, and although it took three tries, Crispin finally smashed his way through the defensive line into the end zone with a two-yard run.”They have a great defense,” Woods said. “We knew in the second half that if we could come down the field and score after the kickoff, this would be a game.”Down by a touchdown and two-point conversion, the Fenwick (5-6) defense forced a three-and-out with the help of a Cougar holding penalty. Beginning at their own 34, the subsequent Crusader drive was their best chance to even the score.On 14 plays, Fenwick fought its way to the Austin Prep 28 before Crispin was tackled at his ankles behind the line on fourth-and-one. The Crusaders had two additional possessions, but both went for naught, and the game ended on a deflected Hail Mary and the home team celebrating.”It’s huge,” said starting Cougar running back Delaney (11 carries, 80 yards), who scored his team’s first two touchdowns on runs of 72 and 1 yards. “This is the first time we’ve ever beat Fenwick on Thanksgiving.”The Crusader-Austin Prep rivalry began in the early 1990s before a hiatus, and the matchup was renewed in 2007. The victory earned the Cougars sole possession of second in the CCL Large which was Maradei’s revised goal after a 20-14 defeat against AC.”I’ve been a head coach for 30 years, and this was a thrill,” he said. “I’m really sorry it’s over.”The win may not have provided Maradei and his team with a league championship, but it still provided Austin with a feeling only attainable from