Jackson — The Saxony Lutheran Crusaders won their first ever home opener in their own stadium Friday night, by a final score of 18-6 over New Madrid County Central.
Head coach O.J. Turner said students and faculty were excited all week to finally open a season in their own stadium, and the win only made the occasion better.
“We played our first home opener at SEMO, even though we ended up playing some of those last games at our home place, they were not a home opener,” Turner said. “So really having our first home opener at our place, kids were pretty juiced up with a lot more energy. They’re bouncing around really well so you knew that it was going to be a good one. We did a really good job over spring and summer so we were pretty excited to see what we’re going to look like. Real competition Friday night under those lights is just different.”
Before the season began, Turner said one of his main goals in 2026 was to improve the team defensively. The Crusaders only gave up one score, a rushing touchdown in the second quarter.
Sophomore running back Alan Rudd gave Saxony its first touchdown of the season, to give the Crusaders the early 6-0 lead, before the lone Eagle touchdown tied the game going into the second quarter.
Saxony’s Junior Quarterback Kai McDowell broke the tie with a keeper for a late first half touchdown, giving the Crusaders a 12-6 lead at halftime.
The third touchdown in the game for Saxony came in the fourth quarter, on another McDowell Keeper that brought the score to its final of 18-6 in favor of the Crusaders.
“The defense really stepped up,” Turner said following the win. “We had multiple three-and-outs, and our offense would get pretty close. But we were not able to kind of punch it in.”
Turner said he was happy with how the defense was able to step up and keep the game close while the offense was playing well but struggling to get going to its fullest potential.
“It was a full game of both teams just trusting each other and knowing that the other team will get the job done,” Turner said. “Alan had 177 yards rushing on a handful of plays. It kind of shows you if we make those blocks in the first half, we could have an even bigger night.”
Saxony travels to Portageville this Friday night before returning home on September 18 to host Windsor.
