In four games St. John the Baptist had only given up 28 points and was ranked 1st in the league in defense and Xavier had only given up 42 points and was ranked 3rd in the league on defense. Nobody expected the game to become a track meet, but that is exactly what happened, whoever scored last was going to win the game. Three amazing drives and short fields created by three interceptions characterized Xavier points and big plays on special teams and broken coverages fueled St. John’s point totals.
Scoring:
An interception by FS Zolen Rodriguez (Jr.) returned for 26 yards down to the SJB 18 yard line set up a short field for Xavier’s first score. FB Matt Safko completed a 14 yard pass to 2B Craig Scardapane for a Xavier 8-0 lead. The 2pt. point conversion was run in by 2B Seamus Kelly (Jr.).
St. John the Baptist came right back on the ensuing kick off for a 94 yard return for a touchdown and made the extra point kick. Score 8-7 Xavier.
On the following kickoff, Xavier 2B/CB Craig Scardapane returned the ball 55 yards to the SJB 40 yard line. Xavier scored on a two play drive with FB Mike Erickson (Sr.) running the ball for 22 yards up the gut to the left and Craig Scardapane running with power off the right side for 18 yards and the score. Craig Scardapane then kicked the extra point. Xavier leads 15-7.
Xavier and SJB then both trade punches and punts and the game seems to be settling in a regular rhythm. On the ensuing series however, SJB mounts an 8 play drive from their own 25 yard line fueled in part by a late hit out-of-bounds penalty. Good coverage, but a missed tackle resulted in a 6 yard pass becoming a 34 yard touchdown. SJB gets the 2pt conversion. Score tied 15-15.
Xavier then drives the ball 7 plays for 66 yards on the back of a 28 yard run by FB Mike Erickson and a 6 yard touchdown run by 2B/WS Seamus Kelly, but it is called back for a holding penalty and Xavier stalls and mis-snaps the ball on a field goal try, but pins SJB deep in their own end. Score still tied 15-15.
Two plays later, with a pancake block and a missed tackle SJB takes the lead 21-15 on a 82 yard touchdown run and misses the extra point. Xavier holds off SJB and forces them to miss a field goal attempt late in the half and the score at half time remains 21-15 SJB.
Xavier makes great offensive adjustments at half and tries to tighten up its’ defense schooling up a replacement for injured LB Jerry D’Arco (Sr. Capt.). Xavier receives the ball to open the half on their 20 yard line after the SJB kicker buries the kickoff out of the end zone.
Xavier caps a 7 play 80 yard drive for a score with a great cut back run for 25 yards by Seamus Kelly off of a left side power play and a 33 yard run for a touchdown off of a devastating wing back counter by WB Jimmy Kowalski (Sr.) who also makes an amazing cut back. Craig Scardapane buries the extra point and Xavier retakes the lead 22-21.
On the ensuing SJB offensive series FS Zolen Rodriguez intercepts an SJB pass and runs it in for a 26 yard TD. Xavier goes for 2pts. to try to go ahead by 2 scores (9 points), but fails and the score is 28-21 Xavier. Momentum has definitely swung in Xavier’s favor.
On the second play of the next SJB offensive series CB Craig Scardapane intercepted the ball at the SJB 39 yard line and Xavier is on offense ready to deliver the knock punch it seems. Seamus Kelly makes a gutty 14 yard run on a left side power play and Xavier is on the move again. A roughing the passer penalty against SJB keeps the Xavier drive alive as the SJB defense stiffens. On 4th and 4 at the SJB 10 yardline Seamus Kelly comes up ½ yard short of the 1st down and Xavier turns the ball over to SJB on their own 7 yard line.
A 33 yard run and a 48 yard touchdown pass behind a blown coverage in the secondary allowed SJB to tie the a game on a 7 play drive 28-28 as the 3rd quarter ended.
After the SJB kicker buried another kickoff through the end zone, Xavier began an amazingly gritty 14 play drive from their own 20 yard line to start the 4th quarter sparked by a 20 yard pass connection between FB Matt Safko and 2B Craig Scardapane and an inside trap for 18 yards by Scardapane. A 10 yard run on a weak side power by Scardapane resulted in a score after overcoming an illegal procedure penalty that called a previous score back. Xavier goes for the 2pt. conversion (probably a mistake) and fails. Xavier retakes the lead for the third time 34-28.
On the second play of the next SJB offensive series, they ran a weak side screen play with starting LB Jerry D’Arco injured on the sideline recognizing the screen action right away and trying to yell to his replacement about what was coming to no avail. Three Xavier tacklers rushed over to make play but with a few nifty moves and a wall of blockers the SJB 2B was able to scamper down the sideline for a 70 yard TD. SJB missed the extra point (Whew!) Scored tied 34-34 with less than 2 minutes left in the game.
Once again Xavier was forced to begin its’ offensive series on the 20 yard line because of an amazing kickoff through the end zone. Unable to get anything going on offense, Xavier forewent its’ famous Quik Kick on 3rd and 6 in order to try to get a first down and keep the drive and clock running but failed and was forced to punt. On the punt, blocking was good, but the punter strayed from the pocket right into the rush and the punt was blocked with less than 1 ½ minutes on the clock. SJB then ran the ball in from the 12 yard line and kicked the extra point to go ahead 41-34.
Using passes and time outs Xavier was able to move the ball from its’ 30 yard line to the SJB 45 yard line, but ran out of time and lost the game, 41-34.
Going into the game, only Xavier and Fordham Prep remained undefeated in the 22 team league. The Xavier loss leaves Fordham Prep who defeated St. Francis Prep 24-14, the only undefeated team in the CHSFL (5-0, 4-0).
Below is an email I received which talks about our offensive line and
Bill Holland, Xavier Graduate Parent is right. Our lineman gave me great
feedback and we made great adjustments to keep our Single Wing time
machine rolling. They had an amazingly number of defenders in the box
making running blitzes our kids, but we knew the plays they left open and
adjusted and ran them. Remember that 4 of our 7 lineman are Juniors and
one of the seniors, Center Andrew Kluger is a backup (who became a starter
with the injury to Joe Drennan). I can’t say enough about how much fun
it is to work with those kids!
Coach,
Keep your chin up. I know the team was disappointed with the final numbers on the score board, but it was a great game because your guys never gave up. Although SJB left the field as the winners, I'm sure they are not looking forward to seeing you again in November. Special kudos to the lineman. The line of scrimmage was a constant battle and the guys in the trenches "held their own." Good luck next week against CTK.
-Bill H.