A strong start on offense and big defensive play near the end of the football game propelled the Bishop O’Connell Knights to a road victory on Saturday (Nov. 2).
Visiting O’Connell (2-7, 1-2) led from start to finish but had to hang on to defeat the Bishop Ireton Cardinals, 17-13, in a Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) Metro Division high-school contest in Alexandria.
The win snapped the Knights’ nine-game losing streak against division rivals that spanned three seasons. Ireton fell to 5-4, 0-3.
“That was a good win for our kids. They played hard,” O’Connell coach Todd Sabatino said. “It’s been a tough season, but playing the way they did today showed they are still fighting and they care.”
With one regular-season game to play, the victory probably clinched a Metro division playoff berth. The Knights missed the playoffs last season.
O’Connell had the first possession of the game and cashed in with a touchdown drive capped when Graham Deaton threw a three-yard scoring pass to Scott Anderson. Josh Graham added the extra point.
The drive began when Anthony Pham returned the opening kickoff 30 yards. The Knights’ Chris Connolly and Nicholas Morris gained big yards running the ball to set up the touchdown.
Connolly was playing his first game of the season and led O’Connell in rushing.
“Our game plan was to run the ball, and we were able to do that,” Sabatino said.
O’Connell’s lead grew to 14-0 with 33 seconds left in the first half when Joe Williams scored on a 15-yard tackle-breaking run and Graham converted.
In the fourth quarter, Graham’s 31-yard field goal upped the lead to 17-7 with 3:44 to play. Ireton returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, then got the ball back on an interception shortly thereafter.
Williams ended the Cardinals’ comeback hopes with an interception and 15-yard return with 1:28 to play. Anderson had an interception earlier in the contest.
Connolly, also a baseball player for O’Connell, ran for 126 yards on 26 carries. Morris had 53 yards rushing. Deaton completed a long pass to Matt Dalton.
On defense for O’Connell, Brandon Green, Will Bryant and Williams were in on a sack.
The Knights’ final regular-season game is at home Saturday, Nov. 9 at noon against the St. Paul IV Catholic Panthers (7-2, 2-1) in a WCAC Metro Division game.
