The Crusaders can be scored on, although it's still not an easy task. And junior Sean Bell has the ability to be a one-man wrecking crew.

Bell rushed for 291 yards on 32 carries and scored four touchdowns as Eustace defeated host Cinnaminson, 28-20, in last night's game matching unbeaten Burlco/Olympic National Division teams.

"I said that the team that would stop the run would win the game," Cinnaminson coach Mario Patrizi said. "We didn't stop the run and Bell was great tonight."

Eustace didn't surrender a point in beating Bordentown and Holy Cross in its first two games. In those wins, Bell averaged 60.5 yards rushing and scored a total of three touchdowns.

Those aren't exactly eye-popping statistics but in those games, Eustace didn't need much more from its 5-foot-10, 160-pound junior.

But last night, the Crusaders needed every yard and each touchdown from Bell. Despite his slight stature, Bell appeared stronger as the game wore on.

"He's a weight room guy," Eustace coach Rob Cormier said.

Bell credited the blocking.

"They were opening up huge holes," he said.

Even though the Eustace defense was finally scored on, the Crusaders still looked pretty stingy when the other team has the ball.

The fact that Cinnaminson scored three touchdowns is a testament to the Pirates' offensive ability and the courage of quarterback Mike Gallo. The senior threw two TD passes and ran for a touchdown when he wasn't running for his life from relentless Eustace pressure.

What made Eustace's effort that much more impressive was that Cinnaminson came into the game 3-0, matching their win total from last year, and were averaging 31.3 points.

In other words, this was one of those intriguing matchups between a team known for its offense against one that gives things up only grudgingly on D.

Eustace and Bell started on fire, building a 14-0 lead before Cinnaminson could blink. Bell scored on runs of 2 and 20 yards.

Meanwhile, in Cinnaminson's first three series, it turned the ball over once and produced minus-1 yard in offense. For Eustace, defensive lineman Ryan Baranowsky and linebacker Jon McGowan were doing the damage.

The Pirates regrouped with Gallo throwing a 4-yard TD pass to Anthony Clayton on a fourth-and-goal play and later, connecting on a 56-yard scoring strike to a wide-open Chris Blasingame making it, 14-13, at halftime.

Bell countered with TD runs of 16 and 49 yards in the third quarter, and the Eustace lead appeared safe.

However, Gallo's 14-yard touchdown run, cut the margin to 28-20 with 6 minutes, 27 seconds left.

On the ensuing kickoff, Bell's 44-yard return put Eustace on the Cinnaminson 45.

The Pirates stayed alive when Mike Dwyer blocked Ken Fetchko's 28-yard field goal try but the Eustace defense then held and the Crusaders ran out the clock.

Both Cinnaminson and Eustace appear to be teams that should be competing in the postseason.

What we also found last night was that the team that prevents scores can put some on the board, especially when Bell has the ball.

Bishop Eustace 14 0 14 0 - 28

Cinnaminson 0 13 0 7 - 20

B: Bell 2 run (Fetchko kick)

B: Bell 20 run (Fetchko kick)

C: Clayton 4 pass from Gallo (Wright kick)

C: Blasingame 56 pass from Gallo (kick failed)

B: Bell 16 run (Fetchko kick)

B: Bell 49 run (Fetchko kick)

C: Gallo 14 run (Wright kick)

or mnarducci@phillynews.com.