Irish, Bulldogs remain unbeaten
Notre Dame improved to 3-o in NCAA football action Thursday with a 38-0 win over the Denis Morris Reds. Photo by PETER METHNER.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish senior football team improved to 3-0 in Niagara Catholic Athletic Association play Thursday with a 38-0 victory over the Denis Morris Reds.
Scoring for the Irish were: Everett Hemauer with a 35-yard rushing TD; Dustin Dulmage with a 45-yard Pick 6; Trent Groulx with a 55-yard punt return TD and TD catches of 15 and 45 yards from Ben Tsanoff; and, Brodie Bevacqua with a 17-yard field goal and five converts.
“I thought we played well today especially in the first half. We made plays in all three phases of the game. The defence really played well and was rewarded with four interceptions, including Dustin Dulmage’s touchdown,” Notre Dame head coach Tim Bisci said. “Special teams played well and we got a punt return for a TD. The offence ran the ball extremely effectively and we were able to open it up a bit more throwing for a couple touchdowns. We are in a good place for the moment and we are working on getting better as a group.”
Bisci singled out the efforts of two of his players.
“Breton Pearcey continued his strong defensive campaign and Trent Groulx really put himself in the company of the elite players in Niagara. He plays tough defence and just makes plays on offence.”
For the Denis Morris Reds: Cole Kelly had two catches for 60 yards; catches were made by Travis Palmer, Nathan Irwin and Andrew Burciul; the offence was able to move the ball at points during the game but unable to put the ball in the end-zone; Justin Jean-Joseph provided positive kick return yardage; Burciul and Austin MacRae led the rushing attack; Tommy Dallman had a fumble recovery; and, Jacob Shannon and Josimar Granja had tackles for losses.
“I was proud of our poise and effort today. The team fought hard and got better today even though it didn’t show on the scoreboard. They didn’t back down or give up, and fought hard the entire game,” Denis Morris head coach Steve Roach said. “The offensive line communicated well and worked together to try to stop the Irish pass rush and on some plays they were able to give our quarterback time to throw. Our defence did well, limiting yards against the run and tackling well on most plays. We are getting better as a team.”
Roach was impressed with the Irish defence.
“Notre Dame’s defence was too much for the Denis Morris offence. Their blitzing linebackers were tough to stop and their strong secondary forced interceptions.”
With the folding of the Saint Michael senior football team, Denis Morris has declared itself ineligible for NCAA playoffs and has accepted Saint Michael players onto its roster.
BULLDOGS 24 WOLFPACK 16
The Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs senior football team pushed its record to 2-0 in Niagara Region High School Athletic Association play Thursday with a 24-16 victory over the West Niagara Wolfpack (0-3).
“We had a 21-2 lead at halftime with some big offensive plays and big defensive stops in the second quarter. West Niagara scored quick in the second half and a fumble in our own end zone that was returned for a TD soon after, made it a one-score game pretty quickly,” Churchill offensive coordinator Donnie Marshall said. “The fourth quarter was a defensive battle and our kicker Ethan Valesquez kicked a 45 yarder to make it an eight-point game.”
Scoring TDs for the Bulldogs were: Liam Finley on a QB sneak set up by a deep ball to Lukas Goodbrand; and, TD passes from Finley to Ty Kostyniuk and Cole Lewis.
“Our defence was flying around making plays and really did a heck of a job today. They especially made some big plays when it counted,” Marshall said. “Give West Niagara credit. They battled us up front with some very good physical players. Their coaching staff did a great job preparing for us as well and really had their defensive front seven ready to go.”
For the Wolfpack: Kieran McDonald caught a 14-yard TD pass from Coby Green; Sean Northcott had a five-yard fumble recovery TD; Teaquan Powell had a fumble recovery; sacks were recorded by Levi VanRyn, Adam Skeldon and Jacob Shaver; and, Shaver blocked two punts.
“Getting really tired of losing by one score from self-inflicted penalties. Untimely errors have been our demise once again,” West Niagara head coach Zack Silverthorne said. “We’re a good team that’s 0-3 which maybe means we’re not good. We consistently find a way to lose.”
