by Parma, OH: The Holy Name Green Wave (4-4, 1-3 CONF) came from behind in the fourth quarter Friday night to defeat the Padua Franciscan Bruins (4-5, 1-3 CONF), 21- 17, in a dramatic North Coast Football Conference regular-season finale at Padua Stadium. Holy Name rallied from a 17-14 deficit to take the lead with just over five minutes remaining, then made two crucial fourth-down stops to secure the victory. The win moves the Green Wave to 5-4 on the season, while Padua finishes the regular season at 4-6.
The game featured a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, a pair of rushing scores from Padua running back #25 Maks Karasek, and a late go-ahead touchdown run by Holy Name quarterback #2 Luke Hudak. With both teams trading the lead throughout the night, the game came down to defensive stops and fourth-down execution in the closing minutes.
First Half
Padua opened the game with an opportunity to take an early lead but missed a 34-yard field goal, giving Holy Name possession at its own 20-yard line. The Green Wave were unable to get their offense moving on their opening possession, going three-and-out and giving the Bruins the ball at their own 42. On their second drive, Padua put points on the board with 3:38 remaining in the first quarter. Kicker #41 Aiden Relic connected on a 31-yard field goal to give the Bruins a 3-0 advantage.
Padua’s defense continued to make life difficult for Holy Name, forcing another three-and-out. However, the Green Wave delivered the biggest play of the opening quarter on the ensuing Padua possession.
With just 14 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Padua lined up to punt from its own 30-yard line. Holy Name #8 Kayden Parker burst through the middle of the line, blocked the punt, and recovered the ball in stride before returning it all the way for a touchdown. The extra point was good, and the Green Wave suddenly led 7-3 at the end of the first.
Padua struggled to establish offensive consistency early in the second quarter, opening with another three-and-out. Holy Name also failed to capitalize on its next possession, punting the ball back to the Bruins at their own 43-yard line.
This time, Padua’s offense found its rhythm. The Bruins kept the drive alive by
converting a crucial fourth-and-one from the nine-yard line. On third-and-goal from the three, running back #25 Maks Karasek took the wildcat snap and powered his way into the end zone for a touchdown. Relic added the extra point, putting Padua back in front, 10-7, with 4:31 remaining in the first half.
Holy Name responded with a late scoring drive of its own. Facing fourth-and-three from the Padua 35-yard line with 1:13 remaining, quarterback #2 Luke Hudak completed a 10-yard pass to #1 Esdras Gonzalez to keep the possession alive. The Green Wave continued to move the ball and struck with just 24 seconds left before halftime. Hudak dropped back and found Gonzalez in the corner of the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was good, restoring Holy Name’s lead to 14-10 before the half.
Holy Name carried a four-point advantage into halftime and was set to receive the
second-half kickoff.
Second Half
Padua’s defense came out strong to start the third quarter, forcing Holy Name into another three-and-out. The Bruins took over at the Green Wave’s 43 yard line with a chance to swing the momentum.
Padua moved into scoring position but faced a critical fourth-and-seven from the 19-yard line. The Bruins elected to go for it, but the pass fell incomplete, turning the ball over on downs and allowing Holy Name to escape without surrendering points.
Both defenses continued to battle, and the score remained 14-10 Holy Name entering
the fourth quarter.
Padua finally broke through at the 11:53 mark. Facing second-and-nine from the Holy Name 14-yard line, Karasek took the handoff to the left end, ran through a defender, and powered into the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown run. Relic's extra point was good, giving the Bruins a 17-14 lead.
With the game on the line, Hudak and the Green Wave offense answered with a
determined drive.
On fourth-and-seven from the 36-yard line with 8:31 remaining, Hudak avoided a sack and found #5 Patrick Kelley downfield for a 16-yard gain to keep the drive alive. Later, facing third-and-nine from the Padua 19, Hudak connected with Parker in the flat, and he picked up 12 yards to move the Green Wave closer to the end zone.
The drive culminated with 5:23 remaining. On first-and-goal from the seven-yard line, Hudak called his own number and took off up the middle for a seven-yard rushing touchdown. The extra point was good, giving Holy Name a 21-17 lead.
With 3:12 remaining, the Bruins attempted a fake punt on fourth-and-three from their own 30-yard line. Relic took off toward the left sideline, racing for the first-down marker, but Holy Name’s #22 Colt Troy made the tackle two yards short of the line to gain. The Green Wave took over at the Padua 31-yard line with a chance to put the game away.
Padua’s defense came up with a response of its own. With 2:12 remaining, Holy Name faced fourth-and-four from the Padua 25-yard line and elected to go for it. The Bruins stuffed the play for no gain, giving their offense another opportunity to mount a game-winning drive.
Padua took over at its own 25 with approximately two minutes remaining and no timeouts. The Bruins moved the ball but faced fourth-and-11 from the Holy Name 47-yard line with just 30 seconds left. Quarterback #15 Donavin Friscone scrambled in search of an open receiver, but his pass fell incomplete, turning the ball over to Holy Name.
The Green Wave took possession, knelt out the remaining seconds, and secured a
hard-fought 21-17 victory.
Top Performers
Padua Franciscan Bruins
Maks Karasek: 35 carries, 157 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs; 1 reception.
Donavin Friscone: 11-of-22 passing, 103 yards.
Trey Gasparro: 3 receptions, 62 yards.
Jack Boswell: 4 receptions, 24 yards.
Holy Name Green Wave
Luke Hudak: 12-of-19 passing, 109 yards, 1 passing TD; 7 carries, 14 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD.
Esdras Gonzalez: 4 receptions, 48 yards, 1 TD.
Patrick Kelley: 2 receptions, 19 yards.
Kayden Parker: 13 carries, 26 rushing yards; 1 reception, 12 yards; 1 blocked-punt return TD.
Big Plays
Holy Name’s special teams made an immediate impact when #8 Kayden Parker blocked a Padua punt and returned it for a touchdown with 14 seconds remaining in the first quarter. The play turned a 3-0 Padua lead into a 7-3 Holy Name advantage and provided one of the game’s biggest momentum swings.
Padua answered with a strong rushing performance from #25 Maks Karasek, who finished with 157 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries. His three-yard wildcat touchdown in the second quarter put the Bruins ahead 10-7, while his 14-yard scoring run early in the fourth quarter gave Padua a 17-14 lead.
Holy Name’s fourth-quarter comeback was fueled by Hudak's ability to extend plays and deliver under pressure. His 16-yard completion to Patrick Kelley on fourth-and-seven helped sustain the go-ahead drive, while his seven-yard rushing touchdown with 5:23 remaining proved to be the game winning score.
The final minutes featured three major fourth-down stops. Colt Troy stopped Padua’s fake punt short of the marker, and the Bruins later stuffed Holy Name on fourth-and-four to get the ball back. Padua’s final fourth-and-11 incompletion, however, ended its comeback hopes.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
Padua — 3:38: Aiden Relic, 31-yard field goal (good). Padua 3, Holy Name 0.
Holy Name — 0:14: Kayden Parker, blocked-punt return touchdown (XP good). Holy Name 7, Padua 3.
Second Quarter
Padua — 4:31: Maks Karasek, 3-yard rushing touchdown (XP good). Padua 10, Holy Name 7.
Holy Name — 0:24: Luke Hudak to Esdras Gonzalez, 9-yard touchdown pass (XP good). Holy Name 14, Padua 10.
Third Quarter
No scoring.
Fourth Quarter
Padua — 11:53: Maks Karasek, 14-yard rushing touchdown (XP good). Padua 17, Holy Name 14.
Holy Name — 5:23: Luke Hudak, 7-yard rushing touchdown (XP good). Holy Name 21, Padua 17.
Final: Holy Name 21, Padua Franciscan 17
Players of the Game
Holy Name Green Wave — QB #2 Luke Hudak
Stat line: 12-of-19 passing, 109 yards, 1 passing TD; 7 carries, 14 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD.
Hudak delivered when Holy Name needed him most, throwing a key first-half ttouchdown to Esdras Gonzalez before using his legs to score the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. His composure under pressure, including a crucial fourth-down completion to Patrick Kelley, helped the Green Wave put together the decisive drive and finish the season with a hard-fought conference victory.
Padua Franciscan Bruins — RB #25 Maks Karasek
Stat line: 35 carries, 157 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs; 1 reception.
Karasek was the engine of Padua's offense, consistently carrying the load and producing both of the Bruins' touchdowns. His powerful wildcat score in the second quarter and 14-yard touchdown run in the fourth gave Padua multiple leads throughout the game. Despite the loss, his 157-yard rushing performance kept the Bruins competitive until the final seconds.
