In the rain on Friday night, the Patriots kept their championship hopes alive as they defeated the St. Mary’s Saints 33-14. Playing their second consecutive rainy Friday night game, the Patriots (6-2 overall, 5-2 MIAA ‘B’ Conference) controlled the clock, got big plays when they needed it, and shut down a potentially potent Saints (4-4, 4-3) offense.
Senior quarterback Stephen St. Clair rushed for 185 yards and scored four touchdowns, while senior running back Sam Chell added another touchdown to pace the option attack. The defensive line harassed St. Mary’s quarterback Ryan Hart all night behind strong performances from junior Zach Frink and senior Adam Rahll.
The game initially shaped up to be a defensive slugfest, as both offensive units were forced to punt on their initial possessions. After the Patriots forced a Saints punt, the JC rushing attack took over. St. Clair, Chell, and junior fullback Tyler Ray took turns advancing the ball down the field. After converting a key fourth-down late in the drive, Chell took the ball around the left end and 15 yards into the endzone. Senior kicker Josh Gunn’s extra point gave the Patriots a 7-0 lead.
St. Mary’s was quick to answer back on a 10-yard touchdown scamper by Hart. The Saints’ offense was able to move down the field because of plays by running back Mike Coyle and pass plays to wide receiver Mark McNeill to penetrate the Patriots defense. The extra point tied the game at 7-7 early in the second quarter.
McNeill presented a problem for the Patriots defense. At 6-4, 205, no one on the roster had the size to match up effectively against the senior wide receiver. Instead, the Patriots used constant double coverage to dog McNeill all night. Junior Austin Hussar lined up opposite McNeill with either St. Clair or senior safety Jamal Love providing help over the top. On kickoffs, Gunn squibbed the ball down one of the sidelines, keeping it away from McNeill.
Less than a minute later, the Patriots answered back and re-took the lead on a 65-yard touchdown run by St. Clair. Again, with just under five minutes left in the second quarter, St. Clair scored another touchdown from four yards out. Gunn’s kick was off the mark, and left the Patriots with a 20-7 lead going into halftime.
Coming out strong in the second half, Coyle’s runs drove St. Mary’s down the field, to the Patriots’ 35-yard line. With momentum behind them, the Saints faced an important fourth-and-six. McNeill lined up at quarterback in St. Mary’s variation of the Wildcat formation, took the direct snap, and plunged into the line. However, he was stopped one yard short.
The Patriots could not capitalize on the defensive stop, as they were forced to punt before returning the favor to the Saints. St. Clair added his third touchdown of the night on the next drive, a five-yard quarterback keeper to extend the Patriots lead to 27-7. The drive was helped by multiple personal foul and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on the St. Mary’s defense.
Later in the fourth quarter, St. Clair added his last and most impressive touchdown of the night, a 50-yard run that started to the right side of the offense. However, St. Clair was forced back to the left, breaking multiple tackles on the way to the endzone. Senior Brad Ross’s extra point attempt was wide left. The lead was now 33-7.
With the majority of the Patriots starters on the sidelines, the Saints desperately tried to get their main weapon McNeill involved in the game. On one kickoff that Coyle received, he lateraled quickly to McNeill, who took off up the sideline for a 20-yard return. The offense ran screen passes towards him and lined him up at quarterback in an attempt to put the ball in his hands. He was finally able to break free late in the fourth, catching a 50-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Chris Kelly down the sideline, cutting the lead to its final, 33-14.
This game had far greater implications beyond Friday night. The two teams entered the game with identical 4-2 records in the MIAA ‘B’ Conference, which tied them for third place behind Boys’ Latin and Archbishop Spalding, who also met Friday afternoon.
With the win, the Patriots improve to 5-2 in the conference, and take sole possession of third place. A win versus Spalding (7-1, 6-1), who lost 20-0 to Boys’ Latin (8-0, 7-0), this Friday would give the Patriots a boost in their quest for the championship. St. Mary’s, who fell to 4-3 and are also the two-time defending ‘B’ Conference champions, were eliminated from title contention.
Daniel Gallen can be reached for comment at [email protected].
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