Cardinals Taste a Win in Season Finale, 41-21

Senior Justin Paige returned punts, intercepted passes, and generally did it all in his final game as a Cardinal.

Bishop Ireton (1-9) ended the 2012 football season on a positive note with a lopsided 41-21 win over Pope John Paul the Great (2-8) that was not as close as the final score might suggest. After a season of near misses and bad breaks, everything fell into place for the Cardinals enroute to a 34-0 halftime lead.

For the Cardinals it was a nearly flawless first half. On the game’s third play from scrimmage, junior linebacker Hudson Sullivan picked off Austin Otter’s first pass of the day and returned it to the Wolves 42-yard line. The visitors needed only 4 plays to cover the distance, with Justin Paige hauling in a PJ Zingler toss for 30 yards and an Ireton touchdown. Sophomore Ben Zagata-Hurley added the extra point to give the white-jerseyed Cardinals a 7-0 lead.

Sullivan and freshman Trey Levisone combined for a sack on John Paul the Great’s next possession to force a Wolves’ punt. Neither team could muster a drive until Ireton gained possession late in first quarter. A nine-play drive that included a pair of 4th down conversions led to Ireton claiming a 14-0 lead when Zingler found Brandon Price-Williams out of the backfield and the senior broke a pair of tackles enroute to a 17-yard touchdown with :29.4 seconds left in the first.

Following Justin Paige’s 36-yard punt return to the JPGHS 27-yard line, Bishop Ireton quickly scored its third touchdown. Sophomore Andrew Latrash took a handoff on consecutive plays, once for 18 yards, then for the final nine and Ireton had a 21-0 lead with 9:29 to play.

A series of miscues by both teams ensued as John Paul the Great misplayed the kickoff into an Ireton recovery only to see junior Matthew Rayhel intercept Zingler on the next play. The Wolves would return the ball to the redbirds however, as a halfback pass from Michael Horan went off the fingers of junior JR Brandon-Hooker and into the hands of Justin Paige, who was seemingly everywhere on the field Saturday. The interception put Ireton deep in John Paul the Great territory and two plays later Zingler hit senior Austin Carter on a 10-yard slant to make it 28-0 less than a minute after Ireton’s last score.

Freshman punter Matthew Nguyen attempted to field a low snap on the home team’s next possession, but when his knee touched the grass, the ball was dead at that point. A costly mistake for the Wolves that the visitors immediately cashed in with a error-plagued drive by both clubs. Nonetheless, five plays later, Carter fielded a screen pass and raced up the middle 18 yards for an Ireton touchdown. A missed PAT sent the game to halftime 34-0.

The second half would see the Cardinals tack on a final tally when Latrash plowed in from a yard out and plenty of playing time for many Ireton reserves. The Wolves continued to play on hard on their Senior Day finale, but the contest was long before decided even as the green and black host team narrowed the final margin. The game was interrupted following an apparent neck injury to the Wolves’ junior Sam White, a defensive lineman, on the Latrash touchdown run. Following the delay, the inspired John Paul squad added a pair of touchdowns to close out the scoring. The condition of the injured White was unknown at the conclusion of the contest.

As is his usual practice, Coach Verducci spoke to the team on the field immediately following the game, summing up his feelings in three points: he was so very happy for the team and its seniors to cap the season off with a victory; he hoped they would fondly recall experiences that outshine their record; and he expressed his joyin coaching this team as much as any other in his eleven years at Bishop Ireton. As the sun set on a glorious afternoon, the team reflected Coach Verducci’s commitment by shouting “Brotherhood!” before they left the field.

: Francesco Chichizola (24) and Andrew Latrash (17) corral JPG’s Michael Horan (31) Saturday.

: Hudson Sullivan (5) and Trey Levisone (51) close in on junior QB Austin Otter Saturday.

: Junior Dylan Espinosa pressured John Paul the Great all day on defense.

: Senior Justin Paige returned punts, intercepted passes, and generally did it all in his final game as a Cardinal.

: Ireton tackle Jimmy Keegan (74) battles in the trenches his final time as a Cardinal.

: Brandon Price-Williams scampers into the end zone in the first quarter.

: Both teams line the way as the Wolves’ Sam White is evacuated to the hospital in the 4th quarter. His condition is not known at the time the story was published.