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Neither rain nor St Albans slows the Cardinals, 38-6

Posted On: Monday, September 15, 2014
By: wsimmons

No room to run, Cardinal defense shuts out Bulldogs, St Albans using an interception to grab an early lead.

It was a day for re-dedicating Fannon Field as the new artificial turf was blessed by Father Bresnahan and a day to debut the Cardinals sharp anthracite gray alternate third jersey.  Despite everyone’s best efforts to make it a picture perfect day, Mother Nature wasn’t cooperating.   Bishop Ireton shook it off nonetheless  and took care of business in dedicating the turf in a steady downpour and the Cardinals in rolling up 38 unanswered points in a lopsided win in their home opener, 38-6 over the Bulldogs of St Albans.

The Bulldogs scored first in a rainy first period when quarterback Joe Dickinson’s toss to the flat floated over the intended receiver and directly to junior Zachary Bagliore.  The fleet footed visitor snared the errant aerial and rumbled 32 yards to give St Albans a 6-0 lead with 7:47 remaining in the opening quarter of play. The PAT was blocked, a sign of things to come for the visiting Bulldogs.

After a slow start, the weather began to improve and so did the Cardinals’ offense. Following a blocked punt, the first of a number of St Albans turnovers, Perris Jones weaved his way through the middle of the St Albans’ defense for a 15 yard touchdown and the Cooper PAT gave Ireton a 7-6 advantage.

The Cardinals next possession stalled after a successful onside kick down to the 28, giving David Cooper a daunting 43-yard field goal attempt in a light rain.  The strong-legged junior banged it home from the left hash mark with room to spare at 3:43 and the lead was 10-6.

The Washington all-boys school rode the running of senior Chris Howe in their opening day win over Anacostia, but the running back had little room all day against the Cardinal defense that just won’t yield a yard without a struggle. Time and again, the defense put the offense in good field position with minimal down time on the sidelines for the home team’s offensive unit.

When the offense didn’t have great field position, they simply used it to spread the field.  Senior Drew Smith hauled in a Joe Dickinson pass from the Ireton 1o-yard line and the fleet footed Smith outran the defenders 90 yards for the Cardinals second touchdown at 6:51 in the second period.

It took only three plays for Dickinson to find Smith in the end zone again, this time Dickinson’s favorite receiver outjumped the defender to haul in the touchdown with only 64 seconds remaining in the half, Ireton enjoying a 24-6 advantage.

Following a 12-yard punt early in the third quarter, Ireton again had great field position and ran off 8 plays, all but one on ground before Alex Duke appeared to bulldoz up the middle for an 8 yard score.  Ruled down at the one, Andrew Latrash made it 31-6 in the next play from one yard away.   Just over 7 minutes remained in the third.

The defense continued to refuse to bend and the offense pounded the ball on the ground, wearing down the white jerseyed boys from Mount Alban. Finally, the Bulldog defense  broke in the game’s final minute and the dangerous Aaron Speight rushed around the Cardinals’ left end, and untouched turned down field  45 yards for the game’s final points, with only 22 seconds remaining.

For the Cardinals (2-1) cross town rivals, Episcopal (1-0) awaits.  The Maroon topped Ireton last year and opened with a lopsided win over Flint Hill on Saturday.  Gametime at Episcopal’s Hummel Bowl is set for 2pm.

News and Notes:

– Senior Drew Smith’s two touchdowns give him 8 on the year after 3 games, including a kickoff return

–  Ireton’s championship girls lacrosse team was presented championship rings at the halftime of the School’s football home opener.

– Cardinals snapped a losing streak to St Albans that goes back more than 10 years with the win on Saturday.

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