Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin protected its home field against visiting Bedford in a 28-6 win Friday night. The convincing victory was the second in a row for the Lions, who dropped their season opener.
Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin protected its home field against visiting Bedford in a 28-6 win Friday night. The convincing victory was the second in a row for the Lions, who dropped their season opener.
“I thought we finished well,” Head Coach Andre Griffin said. “I thought the weather at the start caught us a little bit, but we came out of the game tough, we scored right away, and then we finished in the second half.”
Despite the rain, the Lion offense provided early fireworks for those in the stands braving the elements. Angelo Tamburrino rushed for a combined 77 yards across the first two plays and found paydirt to get NDCL on the board in 31 seconds.
“It’s huge. Going into the game, you know you’ve got to start fast,” Tamburrino said about his team’s explosive start. “I put my faith in our O-line, and they delivered. The holes they opened up were just huge, easy to hit. I’ve got to praise our line.”
The pace of play remained hectic for the next minute. A pair of fumble recoveries from brothers Connor and Brendan Hernan, on consecutive Bearcat snaps, set the Lions up deep in Bedford territory.
However, turnovers of their own left NDCL with nothing to show for it.
“It’s up to the leaders,” Coach Griffin said on keeping the team composed despite miscues. “Obviously the coaches, but guys like Ryan Lipowski (also) do a great job leading our team.”
After forcing a Bedford punt, the Lions got back to work on the ground, where Lipowski got a chance to lead with his legs. After a 29-yard scamper and seven-yard completion to Brendan Sawitke, Lipowski would break into the open field once again for 24 more yards and six more points.
“I’m a basketball player, so I have a little quickness to me,” Lipowski said of his running ability. “I think being a dual-threat quarterback propels our team so much, especially with our O-line.”
In the closing minutes of the half, however, it was Bedford who began to make splash plays. An interception from Dsani Donaldson set the Bearcats up at midfield.
Rayshawn Duncan and the rushing attack took over from there, capping off the drive with a seven-yard TD run to make it 14-6 before half.
The Lion pass rush made things difficult on Bedford’s offense to start the second half. Two third-quarter sacks from Connor Hernan helped derail multiple Bedford drives and maintain the lead during a stretch when neither offense could get much going.
“We want to steam a little bit on the defensive line,” said Coach Griffin on the success of the pass rush. “And with the Hernan brothers doing what they’re doing – crashing the pocket, taking good angles, and putting pressure on the quarterback – we knew if we could keep him in the pocket, we could create a lot of sacks, and that’s what we did.”
As the fourth quarter began, the Lions began to march. Picking up nice chunks of yardage on the ground, NDCL found themselves inside the Bedford 10. However, when the Lions found themselves facing a fourth-and-goal situation from the one, they turned to the pass.
“There was a timeout earlier that possession, and Coach told me he might be calling my name,” Lipowski said. “And if he did, he told me to make sure I got in the endzone. And that’s what I did.”
Indeed, Lipowski found Connor Hernan in the middle of the end zone to extend the lead to two possessions.
Hernan continued to be a problem on the defensive side of the ball, notching another sack as well as applying pressure to force an erred throw. Not to be outdone by his fellow two-way teammate, Angelo Tamburrino recovered a fumbled snap to take the ball back for the Lions.
“That’s just the way I was raised, man,” Tamburrino said on his ability to make an impact on both sides of the ball. “Go get after it every play – no matter what – and never quit. Never quit.”
Back on offense, Tamburrino put that tenacious mentality on display by adding another 21 yards and a second touchdown to his night’s total. Bedford got the ball back with 2:14 left, but it was too little, too late.
The Lions end a three-game homestand Friday as they host Gilmour Academy. Bearcat action will resume Saturday afternoon when they travel to Buchtel.
