**ARTICLE BY LIEN VELDBOOM**
The Unity Christian Crusaders and the St. Joseph Bears played on Thursday night. The Crusaders and the Bears were hungry for a win after both dropping their week one game in high-scoring contests. Unity Christian looked to be running away with the game in the first quarter, but St.Joseph was able to make a comeback to capture a 41-28 victory.
In the first quarter of play, it was all Unity Christian. They managed to put 22 points on the board while keeping the Bears off the scoreboard. Mitchell Tibbe scored the first touchdown of the night running 67 yards to the end zone. A two-point conversion was made by Dylan DeHoop making the score 8-0 early in the first. Tibbe used his arm to put another six points on the board, as he found Carter Bylsma in the end zone. DeHoop added another eight points to the board after running for 7 yards and completing the 2-point conversion.
St. Joseph got on the board seconds into the second quarter. Matthew Lanier threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Nate. Unity Christian had a quick response, however, as Isaac Stienstra hauled in a 6-yard pass from Tibbe. This was the last time Unity found the end zone in this game, ahead 28-7.
It was all St. Joseph, as the Bears scored 34 unanswered points on the ground. Four different players for the Bears found the end zone. Hudson Lange, Trey McGinnis, and Thomas Moore each scored one, while Joron Brown scored the last two of the night.
The Crusaders were led by Mitchell Tibbe who rushed for 95 yards and threw for 72 yards. He ended the game with 3 touchdowns to his name. Dylan DeHoop and Carter Bylsma each added a touchdown to the stat sheets.
St. Joseph had a strong running game with Trey McGinnis and Joron Brown each having 100+ yards. They were aided by Matthew Lanier who had 93 yards through the air.
Next week, Unity Christian, now 0-2, will be on the road for its first conference match-up. They are set to face the Coopersville Broncos, who are 2-0 on the season. St. Joseph will face Kalamazoo Central as they look to build off this past win in their SMAC opener.
