The Patriots fell short in their quest for the MIAA ‘B’ Conference Championship on Friday night, falling to the Archbishop Spalding Cavaliers 30-19. Behind strong plays from running backs JD Izon and Shelley White, who combined for three touchdowns, the Cavaliers outplayed and outlasted the host Patriots.
Senior quarterback Stephen St. Clair was kept in check most of the night by the Cavaliers defense, led by 6-4, 295 pound defensive tackle Terrell Johnson, but St. Clair still managed to continue his masterful season, rushing for two touchdowns and throwing for another.
Both teams got off to hot starts in the first quarter. The Patriots took the opening kickoff and marched downfield, helped by a spectacular one-handed catch from senior running back Jamal Love. Love also ran the ball effectively on the drive, helping push the ball into Cavalier territory. Facing a 4th-and-12 from the Cavalier 18-yard line, the Patriots gambled and succeeded, with St. Clair completing a 13-yard pass to junior wide receiver Brendan Butler. Less than a minute later, St. Clair snuck through the left side of the offensive line for a three-yard score. The Cavaliers blocked senior kicker Josh Gunn’s low line-drive extra point.
The Cavaliers, led by junior quarterback Donnie Abey, responded quickly. Running the option attack, Abey made quick decisions, allowing Spalding to pick up significant yardage and move the ball downfield. With 1:45 left in the opening period, Izon took a pitch from Abey, juked out a defender, and took off for a 38-yard touchdown scamper. Junior kicker Wade Korvin converted the point after, giving the Cavaliers a 7-6 lead.
The Patriots responded quickly after being pinned back deep on the kickoff. After runs by Love and junior fullback Kyle Miele, St. Clair found Butler open behind the Cavalier secondary. Butler caught the pass in stride and ran untouched for a 79-yard touchdown. On the extra point, the Patriots attempted a fake field goal, but the play failed, giving the Patriots a 12-7 at the end of the first quarter.
Following the failed two-point conversion attempt, the Patriots attempted an onside kick which also failed and gave the Cavaliers excellent field position at the Patriot 48-yard line. The Cavaliers capitalized on this field position, and running behind senior running back Taylor Schuden moved deeper into Patriot territory before White finished the drive off with a touchdown. Korvin added the extra point and Spalding took a 14-12 lead.
The Patriots were not able to answer, as St. Clair was sacked on a crucial third down play by senior defensive end Mike Leadmon and was forced to punt. However, the Patriots were able to get the ball right back, as junior linebacker Tyler Ray intercepted a low pass by Abey to give the Patriots the ball back.
After two runs by Ray, the Patriots had one of their best plays of the night. After taking a pitch to the right from St. Clair, junior backup quarterback Ryan Kirby shook of a Spalding defender and uncorked a deep pass down the right sideline to junior wide receiver DJ Owens. Owens pivoted to come back to the ball and out-jumped all three defenders to come up with the catch. Calling his own number, St. Clair took the ball behind his center, senior Scott McIntyre, and into the endzone for his second rushing touchdown of the night. Gunn converted the extra point, and the Patriots had a 19-14 lead with about 48 seconds remaining in the half.
Spalding used the remaining time to their advantage. After a nice kickoff return, Schuden made a twisting catch off a tipped ball in the secondary. The Patriots held their ground, setting Korvin up for a long field goal on fourth down. The Cavalier offense was able to draw the defense offside to gain an additional five yards. Korvin’s kick was low and straight, and it bounced off the crossbar, up into the air, and through the uprights, cutting the Patriot lead to 19-17 going into the locker room.
The third quarter was dominated by Spalding, as they took the opening kick and marched downfield on a drive that lasted 8:47 to take the lead 20-19 on another Korvin field goal. The drive was kept alive by crucial third down runs by both Schuden and Izon, along with a third down pass from Abey to junior running back Scott Saine.
After St. Clair threw an interception later in the third quarter, the Cavaliers faced a critical fourth down in Patriots territory. The Patriot defensive line failed and Izon ran over defenders all the way to the two-yard line. Izon was injured on the play and did not return to the game. White finished off the drive with his second touchdown of the night and Korvin converted the extra point, spotting the Cavaliers a 27-19 lead.
With 9:04 left in the game, the Patriots faced a 4th-and-1 in Cavalier territory. St. Clair attempted a quarterback sneak behind McIntyre and senior guard Nick Martinez, but the mammoth Johnson stuffed him in the backfield.
With about five minutes left in the game, the Cavaliers faced a 2nd-and-7 in Patriots territory. Junior running back K’Vaunte Smith took a handoff and ran right, but was forced back to his left and ran backwards about 15 yards. As Smith was surrounded by a plethora of Patriots, he instinctively dropped to the ground in order to avoid losing anymore yardage. The play was dead as soon as Smith hit the ground, but a Patriots player dropped onto Smith, drawing a 15-yard penalty that set up a 3rd-and-5 that was converted easily. Korvin iced the game with his third field goal, making the score 30-19.
St. Clair and the Patriots attempted to mount a comeback attempt, but after being sacked on consecutive plays by sophomore defensive ends Malik Johnson and Terrell Johnson, St. Clair was forced into a bad throw which was intercepted. Abey ran the last 1:31 off the clock with three kneel downs.
The Patriots travel to Archbishop Curley (3-7, 3-5), who were dominated 34-15 by Boys’ Latin (9-0, 8-0) Friday afternoon, on Nov. 6 to round out their season. Spalding plays host to St. John’s Catholic Prep (1-7, 1-6) that evening. Spalding and Boys’ Latin will meet Nov. 14 at Plevyak Field on the campus of Mt. St. Joseph to decide the ‘B’ Conference champion. The game will be a rematch of the Oct. 23 game where Boys’ Latin came out on top, 20-0.
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Daniel Gallen can be reached for comment at [email protected].