by 1st Quarter
The first quarter was great back-and-forth action in terms of who could establish some dominance. This turned out to be a battle of the defenses because every time you looked up, there was either a sack, a batted pass, or just a turnover in general. Both teams reached their sides of the field but could not convert. This quarter ended at 0-0.
2nd Quarter
This is where the bulk of the action occurred, and it was nothing short of amazing to watch. A total of five touchdowns occurred during this quarter, and they were all special moments. Another slow start to the 2nd quarter as St. Joe’s started off with the ball and lost it due to a 3 & out. St. Ed’s took full advantage of some of the cracks they saw in St. Joe’s armor when it came to the run game. Brandon White took it home for a 75-yard touchdown. Joe’s ended up having to punt on their next drive, and the punt was blocked close to the Eagles’ endzone and was returned for a yard for a 14-0 lead.
Immediately after this, both teams lined up for the kickoff. St. Joe’s caught it, and the Eagles stripped it to get possession once more. This led to another passing touchdown for St. Ed’s for 4 yards. After another failed drive, turning into a pick and another passing touchdown touchdown for The Eagles. Eventually, St. Joe’s finally found some lightning and was able to move the ball up the field and converted on an 18-yard passing touchdown with 59 seconds left in the quarter. This was short-lived because St. Ed’s took it right back down the field on the kick return to make the score 35-7.
3rd Quarter and 4th Quarter
The 3rd quarter was similar to the 1st quarter in the way each team traded blows going up and down the field. Another showcase of both teams flaunting their defense. Could there have been some lackadaisical play happening because the score seemed so far and away? Yes. But it was still good action, nonetheless.
The 4th quarter was when St. Joe’s found some more prowess and will to get down the field and put points on the board. They converted on a 10-yard run and a 10-yard pass on back-to-back possessions, making the score 35-21. Chatter on the sideline from their side was filled with comments like “It’s too late,” and “They should’ve done this earlier.” But what I noticed was a team that wasn’t willing to quit, and no matter how much time was left on the clock, they believed they had a chance, and that is what sports is all about.
Conclusion
Both teams showed up to play today, but the Eagles walked out with their hands held high as the victors in a defensive masterclass. A great performance by their QB, Thomas Csanyi, who went 11-21 with 13.4 avg yards and 2 touchdowns. And their Running back, Brandon White, also had 2 touchdowns (1 rush, 1 receiving).
St. Joe’s found their wind too late, unfortunately. But now the Hawks(0-1) go on to face Erasmus Hall while the Eagles(2-0) face Rock Creek Christian Academy. More action coming up in the upcoming weeks, stay tuned!
