Marshall Howell breaks 42-year-old school rushing record

Recap

October 13, 2012

Walsh Jesuit 37, Benedictine 7

                Senior all-purpose back Marshall Howell broke a 42-year old school rushing record when he scored on a 97-yard run in the third quarter of the Bengals loss to Walsh Jesuit on Saturday October 13 at Bedford Stadium.

                Trailing 7-0 in the third quarter, the Bengals took possession on the four-yard line after a Walsh punt.  A one-yard loss on first down put the ball on the three. It was from there that Howell took the ball on second down and ran through the right side of the line, broke past Walsh’s first wave of defense and ran untouched into the end zone for the game-tying touchdown. Nick Judy kicked the extra point to tie the game at 7-7 with 5:43 left in the third quarter.

                Howell’s long run broke the old record of 95 yards set by Jim Johnson in 1970 in a 15-6 win over East Tech in a key East Senate game at John Adams Field.

                Benedictine coach Ben Malbasa said of Howell’s run, “Marshall's run came on a play called Stack Left Over 628.  Coach Joe Schaefer noticed they (Walsh Jesuit) were short a man on the weakside and we added the play at the half.  Jerome Baker threw a great block on the edge and Marshall read his block perfectly.”  

                Later in the third, Walsh added another touchdown to take the lead 14-7. In the final quarter, Walsh pulled away for a 37-7 North Coast League Blue Division win.

                Howell led the Bengals ball carriers with 133 yards in 15 carries. Jerome Baker added 77 yards in 12 carries.

               

Notes: Jim Johnson (Class of ’71) finished his record-setting game against East Tech with 152 yards in 13 carries.                Johnson also scored the game’s first touchdown on a four-yard run in the second quarter. With Pete Szabo’s extra point kick, the Bengals led at halftime 7-0.

                For his performance in the East Tech game, Johnson earned Plain Dealer Dream Team honors.

                Later that season, Johnson led the Bengals once again as he rushed for 144 yards in 26 carries in Benedictine’s 38-12 victory over St. Ignatius in the Cleveland City Championship Game at the old Stadium.  He won the game’s Most Valuable Player Award.

                That year Benedictine finished with a 9-1 record with its only loss coming to state champion Massillon.

by Wally Mieskoski ’71

Benedictine Football Historian

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