Detroit -- In a back-and-forth battle worth more than the price of admission, Brother Rice prevailed by a 17 to 14 score to win the Catholic League football championship for the A-B division on Saturday evening at Ford Field.
The last game of the league championships, it also was the closest, ending with a nail-biting goal line stand by the Warriors defense.
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The scoring opened on the game’s first drive. Starting from their own 20, the Warriors marched down the field methodically and capped the drive with a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Tyler Lendzion to senior receiver Matthew Ogren. Sophomore kicker Andrew Toth added the extra point for an early 7-0 Brother Rice lead.
After the Eaglets and Warriors traded punts, St. Mary’s Prep would even things up with its own 80-yard scoring drive. After completing a long pass to senior wide receiver Thomas Sellers – who made a memorable leaping grab at the sideline near the Warriors 40 -- Eaglets senior quarterback Michael Koenisgsknecht took the ball in on a 12-yard run. The extra point by junior Nathan Parry knotted the score at 7.
Brother Rice punted on its next possession, pinning the Eaglets deep in their own territory. An ensuing punt attempt from the 18 by St. Mary’s Prep was blocked, giving the Warriors the ball inside the ten yard line.
The Eaglets defense stood strong, however, limiting the Warriors to a 27-yard field goal attempt, which made the score 10-7. That would be the last score of the first half.
St. Mary’s Prep would strike first in the second half. After a touchback started them on their own 20, the Eaglets drove 80 yards downfield for the touchdown. The scoring play was a 38-yard touchdown pass from Koenigsknecht to senior receiver Allen Robinson. Perry added the extra point to give the Eaglets a 14-10 lead.
Brother Rice’s answer to the score came up short. After nearly fumbling the ball deep in their own territory, the Warriors assembled a long drive of their own which put them at the Eaglets 24 yard line as time expired in the third quarter. But two plays later they handed the ball over on downs when a screen pass attempt fell incomplete.
St. Mary’s Prep came to life after converting a third and long with a 20-yard pass play, sustaining a five-minute drive that would nearly reach the Brother Rice red zone. A fumble, however, gave the Warriors new life with over six minutes left in the contest.
Next, it was the Brother Rice passing game that would put them ahead for good.
A 25-yard toss and run to junior tight end Joe Warner brought the Warriors to their 45 yard line. A couple plays later, senior Alex Murray hooked up with classmate Matthew Ogren for a 50-yard touchdown pass. The extra point made the score 17-14 in the Warriors favor.
The Eaglets responded boldly, moving the ball effectively on their next possession. A hook-and-lateral brought them into Warrior territory with less than three minutes left on the game clock. A pass interference call on a 3rd down and four moved the Eaglets inside the Warrior 30. Running the ball, they gained two more first downs, first at the 19, then punching their way down to the nine yard line.
Facing a 3rd down and goal from the two yard line, the Warriors defense came up strong, stuffing Eaglets senior running back Cortez Riley at the line of scrimmage.
With nine seconds remaining on the game clock, the Eaglets sent out their offense for the fourth down.
But again, the Brother Rice defense came up with the stop, stuffing Riley this time inside the one yard line. The Warriors ran off the field jubilant, while some Eaglets players stayed on the turf in apparent dismay and frustration.
The Warriors defensive stand cemented the final score at 17-14.
