Trend Continues: Bengals Come Back to Win

Benedictine 42, Cleveland Central Catholic 18

For the fourth time this season, the Bengals followed a familiar pattern with another come-from-behind victory.

This 42-18 win over North Coast League White Division opponent Cleveland Central Catholic gave the Bengals a 5-0 record, the first time since 2003 that they have started the season with so many consecutive wins.

The stage is now set for the much-anticipated match-up with North Coast League Blue Division rival Lake Catholic.

After spotting Cleveland Central Catholic a 12-point first-half lead, Benedictine roared back to score the next 28 points to run away from the Ironmen in this home game at Bedford Bearcat Stadium.

With a pair of Marshall Howell scoring runs of one and five yards in the second, Benedictine took a 14-12 halftime lead on freshman Toby Leahy extra point kicks. Those Howell touchdowns were scored in a little more than four minutes apart late in the second quarter.

Benedictine got the only points in the third quarter on Bryan Lacey’s three-yard run that gave his team a 20-12 margin.

That lead was increased when Mike Roberts caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dan Piascik with 11:08 left in the game. Lacey’s two-point conversion run made the score 28-12. Roberts score completed a 10-play, 87-yard drive.

Central responded with another touchdown, its third of the game to cut its deficit to 28-18.

Later in the fourth, senior Kelvin Blake took an Ironman punt and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown. Leahy’s kick made it 35-18.

The final touchdown came with 46 seconds left on another Dan Piascik-to-Mike Roberts pass play covering 50 yards. Leahy’s kick was the final point in the 42-18 Bengals victory.

Benedictine’s ground game was led by senior Bryan Lacey, who churned out 145 hard-earned yards on 33 carries. Marshall Howell contributed 105 yards on 16 carries.

Dan Piascik competed seven of 14 passes for 96 yards. His favorite receivers were Howell who caught three and Mike Roberts who caught only two passes, but both were for touchdowns.

Incredibly, the Bengals ran off 76 plays from scrimmage to Central’s 29. Benedictine had 22 first downs to Central’s seven.

The Ironmen had 239 yards in total offense with 215 coming on the ground.

NOTES: The last time the Bengals won at least five games in a season came in 2004 when the team won the Division III state playoff title, finishing with a 12-3 record.

The Bengals have now scored 170 points, surpassing last season’s entire offensive production of 148 points.

The all-time series with Central Catholic now stands with Benedictine on top 13-4-0.

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Wally Mieskoski ’71

Benedictine Football Historian