This Week in BHS Football 2012 Week 1

August 25, 2007

Benedictine 28, ND 7

  

            The first meeting between Benedictine and Notre Dame took place in a new event called the Charity Game at the new Cleveland Browns Stadium. There was a little bit of the new and the old in this game.         

            It was the third edition of this high school football doubleheader.

For Benedictine, the 28-7 victory was a satisfying win in a new Stadium over a new rival with old ties.

            After a scoreless first quarter, Benedictine scored first early in the second on a halfback option pass from junior Anthony Urbania to a wide-open senior wide receiver Josh Dunleavy that covered 44 yards. Josh Steigerwald kicked the extra point that gave the Bengals a 7-0 lead.

The Bengals moved 45 yards in three plays for the game’s first score.

Forcing the Lions to punt, the Bengals moved from their own 46.  A big run of 33 yards by Romel Dismuke took the ball to the ND 18, but after a holding call moved the ball back to the 26.

On the next play, the Bengals fumbled and the ball was picked by the Lions John Fioritto who went 65 yards for the touchdown. Joe Vucic kicked the extra point to tie the game with 9:02 left in the second.

Benedictine took possession on its own 15 with 4:04 left in the first half. The Bengals were struggling to put together a time-consuming drive. At one point, the Bengals were facing a third and 32 situation. But Justin Kollie, a junior running back broke free for 34 yards for the first down to put the Bengals deep into the Lions territory. Three plays later, Coach Art Bortnick pulled another trick out of his playbook.

It was another halfback option pass with Romel Dismuke throwing to Marty Sweeney for a 43-yard touchdown pass with just 29 seconds left in the first half.

Sweeney made a nice move on the ND defender, who fell down, to catch the ball that gave the Bengals a 14-7 lead after Steigerwald’s kick.

He told Bob Fortuna of the Plain Dealer, “I saw the defender slip so I had to come back, adjust to the football and grab it.” Sweeney also had a great game as a defensive back as he had six tackles and batted down three passes.

Dismuke increased the lead to 21-7 when he scored on a 14-yard run with 6:31 left in the third quarter. Steigerwald kicked the conversion.

The final touchdown came on a nine-yard run by Dismuke, who was named the game’s Most Valuable Player Award. That score came with 3:06 left in the game and provided some late-game insurance points.

Early in the game when the Lions recovered a fumble at the Benedictine 16, they gave the ball back several plays later when the Bengals Jason Pinkston intercepted a pass near the goal line.

It was a day for the defense as the Bengals repeatedly stopped the Lions from reaching the end zone.

Benedictine forced ND to punt five times and prevented the Lions from converting on five fourth-down situations.

Bengals coach Art Bortnick told Bill Tilton of the News-Herald, “We relied on our defense.”

The Bengals defense shut down the Lions running game limiting them to minus 13 yards in 27 carries.

ND held a narrow edge in the passing attack gaining 121 yards to the Bengals 113. Benedictine outgained ND 362-108 in total offense.

Benedictine also held an 11-9 advantage in first downs. How good was the Bengals defense in this game? ND did not get its initial first down until the third quarter.

Losing four fumbles in the first half prevented the Bengals from making this game a rout.

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Wally Mieskoski ’71

Benedictine Football Historian