This Week in Benedictine History

October 18, 2003

Benedictine 30, Villa Angela-St. Joseph 10

With an eight-game winning streak, Benedictine entered its next game at Euclid’s Sparky DiBiasio Stadium with Villa Angela-St. Joseph with some apprehension that was well-deserved. VASJ was poised for the upset.

Despite trailing 10-0 midway through the second quarter, the Bengals put together a “complete” victory as they scored 30 straight points to secure a 30-10 victory.

Bengals coach Art Bortnick made some adjustments and then the Bengals took control of the second half. Something had to be done. In the first half, VASJ ran 42 plays from scrimmage while the Bengals ran only 20.

The first step toward a comeback came on the legs of Raymond Williams, who scored on a 63-yard run with 6:03 left in the first half.  Sam Koyl added the extra point that brought the Bengals closer at 10-7.

That score came just 17 seconds after VASJ scored on a 13-yard pass from Mike Cvelbar to David Lighty. Sean Evers, who had a 31-yard field goal earlier, kicked the extra point that gave the Vikings a 10-0 lead.

Twice Benedictine moved deep into Viking territory but were turned away without scoring. At the end of the first half, the Bengals moved to the VASJ five, but a field goal attempt was blocked.

Then at the start of the third, Benedictine got down to the Viking one, but on three successive plays, were held for no gain, and losses of three yards and one yard as they turned over the ball on downs.

The score remained 10-7 through much of the third quarter.

On the second possession, the Bengals took over on their own 37 following a Viking punt.

Five plays later, the Bengals reached the end zone on a 44-yard pass from Joe Laffey to Lorenzo Hunter with 4:14 left in the third that gave the Bengals their first lead of the game. Koyl hit the extra point to make it 14-10.

The Benedictine defense held VASJ to a three-and-out and the Vikings were forced to punt from their own three.

Jon Huddleston took the kick on his own 44 and raced through the Vikings coverage team and scored on a 56-yard punt return for a touchdown.

The Koyl kick made it 21-10 in favor of the Bengals.

On the kickoff, the Vikings took over on their 23. An incomplete pass, and 14-yard sack put the ball on their nine. With the quarterback attempting a pass in the end zone, Bengals defensive end Chris Lorber made the tackle for a safety.

Now the Bengals led 23-10 with 1:15 left in the third.

Benedictine got one final score in the fourth with 4:13 left in the game as Maurice White ran six yards for the touchdown. Koyl’s kick made it 30-10 and a Bengals victory.

Both coaches heaped praise on his opponent.

VASJ coach Tom Schoen noted that the Bengals had scores by the offense, defense and special teams. He told Mark Koestner of the News-Herald, “What does that tell you? It tells you that they’re a complete football team.”

It was Bortnick’s turn.

“You have to give them (VASJ) credit,” he told the News-Herald. “That was a well-executed offense, and they played intense. They made plays. There were numerous times I thought we had them tackled, and then (Cvelbar) or a receiver made a play.”

Part of the halftime adjustments made by Bortnick resulted in superior defensive play in the second half. The Bengals held the Vikings offense to minus -25 yards after the break. 

Raymond Williams had his usual game rushing for 189 yards on 28 carries. That was a big share of the 273 yards running the ball in the game for the Bengals.

VASJ had more luck throwing the ball as they completed 13 of 30 passes for 140 yards and one touchdown.

Benedictine outgained the Vikings, 364-179.

The victory increased the all-time series lead by the Bengals to 10-7-1.

Now undefeated in nine games, the Bengals would like to complete their first undefeated regular season since 1997. But it would take a victory over tough St. Edward at Bedford Stadium in the next week.

Benedictine was 9-0 and ranked No. 1 in the Plain Dealer while St. Edward was No. 5 in the same poll.

The Eagles were looking for the upset that would give them a chance to host a home game in the state Division I playoffs.

Their hopes became reality as the Eagles topped Benedictine 18-13 to knock the Bengals from the ranks of the unbeaten.

NOTES:

The loss to St. Edward was the only one of the season for the Bengals.

                In the playoffs, Benedictine defeated Ravenna Southeast 35-7; University School 44-0; Lake Catholic 33-20; and Steubenville 49-7 to reach the title game.

                For the Division III state title, the Bengals defense once again came to the forefront shutting out high-scoring Kenton. The Bengals won its fifth state playoff crown with this 12-0 victory.

                The win in the title game gave the Bengals a 14-1 season record, the most wins by a Bengals team.

               

by Wally Mieskoski ’71

Benedictine Football Historian

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