Xavier miscues benefit SJB

BY ADAM RONIS
Newsday Staff Writer

October 9, 2006

The St. John the Baptist football team saluted the American flag during the national anthem. When the game ended, the team hailed the yellow penalty flag.

The Cougars defense spent almost the entire second half on the field as the offense had four possessions and didn't pick up a first down. Xavier ( Manhattan ) moved the ball very well, but penalties hurt its ability to finish drives.

Xavier committed seven penalties, and the Cougars defense made critical stops when needed for a 7-6 home win yesterday in a CHSFL football matchup.

Anthony Parris scored on a 3-yard run to open the second quarter and James Muench Jr. kicked the extra point to give SJB (3-2, 3-1 CHSFL A) a 7-0 lead. Xavier's Jonny Dimola scored on an 8-yard run to make it 7-6 with 8:28 left in the third quarter, but Dimola was tackled by Edwards on the two-point conversion.

St. John the Baptist senior Edwyn Edwards watched Xavier play against Cardinal Spellman this season and noticed its penchant for making mistakes.

"They had so many opportunities to score," he said. "They kept making mistakes and penalties killed them, just like this game."

Xavier, which ran 36 plays in the second half, had the ball on the Cougars 25 late in the fourth quarter, but a false start made it first-and-15. After no gain on second down, Xavier (2-2) faced a third-and-long.

Edwards knocked down a pass attempt and Stephen Westby made his fifth interception of the season on fourth down to seal the win with 40 seconds left in the game.

"When we knew we needed to make a stop, we stepped up," said Westby, who had 14 tackles and intercepted a pass at the Cougars 7-yard line to end a 13-play drive by Xavier late in the first half.

Xavier had a chance to take the lead early in the fourth quarter, but a holding penalty on first-and-goal from the 10 pushed it back and Chris Armstrong missed a 25-yard field goal with 8:20 left in the game.

"We caught a break when they missed the field goal," St. John the Baptist coach Tony Grimaldi said.

Something that didn't happen during last year's 1-8 season. "There were a lot of distractions last year," Edwards said. "Some guys weren't about the team. Everyone is set on one goal - to get to the Class A championship game and win."