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Holy Cross’ ship finally comes in

By RICHARD MEEK

A voyage that began six years ago with an 0-10 season came to port Friday night at the Superdome with a district championship on deck.

Holy Cross, which suffered through a winless campaign under Coach Henry Rando’s first campaign six years ago, knocked off Jesuit 27-14.  The victory, coupled with Shaw’s 20-8 upset of Brother Martin, thrust the District 11-AAAA title into a three-way tie among the tigers, Eagles and Crusaders.  Holy Cross goes into the playoffs as the district runner-up, while Shaw goes in as the No. 1 team and Martin is on the sidelines.  Holy Cross will meet Booker T. Washington in the playoffs next week.

Holy Cross finished the regular season with a 9-1 record and 6-1 in league play.  The Blue Jays finished with a 1-6 district mark.

“All of us have to thank the Good Lord,” the Tiger boss said.  “This whole team is committed to Him and, without Him, we wouldn’t be where we are.”

For a while Friday it looked as though Holy Cross would be the odd team out.  Midway through the third quarter, the stubborn Blue Jays were leading 14-13 by virtue of Scott Senner’s 10-yard run after a lateral from Chris Jackson.  The touchdown brought Jesuit to within 13-12 when Cliff Robichaux teamed with Duane DiMaggio for a two-point conversion, the lead was Jesuit’s.

Senner’s run erased a 13-6 margin on Donnie D’Angelo’s two scoring strikes to Kevin Collet.  Collet, who burned Blue Jay defensive back Mike Kipfler on both occasions, scored on passes of 50 and 31 yards.

Jesuit’s third-quarter touchdown seemed to provide the impetus that Holy Cross needed. Following the score, the Tigers marched deep into Jesuit territory but a David Lavle sack of D’Angelo forced Rando to call for place kicker Keith Hodnett.  Hodnett drilled a 42-yard field goal that put his team back on top 16-14.

“When we got behind, the kids did not panic,” Rando said. “We stayed with our game plan and continued to play hard.”

On Jesuit’s next possession, the Tigers’ Jay Markey stripped Robichaux of the ball at the Jesuit 18-yard line.  Larry Nagy recovered for Holy Cross.

The Blue Jay defense stiffened and Hodnett connected from 38 yards out for a 19-14 lead.

A judgment call by an official sealed Jesuit’s fate.  On a fourth down from the 50, Hodnett went back to punt.  On the kick, a Blue Jay defender was blocked into Hodnett and a penalty was called.  A fire-yard infraction for being blocked into the kicker would not have given Holy Cross a first down, but a 15-yard penalty for a flagrant foul was marched off and the game was Holy Cross’.

“The game was marred late when Collet shoved Jesuit’s Nicky Hazard and Hazard followed with a punch that kayoed the Holy Cross wide receiver.  Before order was restored, 58 yards in penalties had been marked off between the two teams.

Billy Doyle, who picked up 125 yards on 17 carries, provided the icing when he rambled 26 yards for the game’s final score.  Rando decided to go for two points and Klay Guillot, who finished with 117 yards on 22 trips, crashed through the heart of the Blue Jay defensive front for the conversion.

The Blue Jays began as though they were gong to avenge a season of bad luck in one game.  Coach Billy Murphy’s crew took their first possession 69 yards for a 6-0 lead.  Robichaux completed several passes to wide receiver Mickey Parenton and Senner, who was wandering out of the backfield, on the drive.  DiMaggio received the scoring honors with a1-yard plunge.

Early in the second quarter, Holy Cross received good field position and wasted little time in taking advantage of is.  On the drive’s second play, D’Angelo teamed with Collet for the duo’s first TD.

A 15-yard Jesuit punt midway through the second quarter gave Holy Cross excellent field position once again, this time at the Tiger 42.  After Doyle and Guillot led the Tigers into Jay territory, D’Angelo and Collet went back to work, hooking up for a 31-yard score and a 13-6 lead. 

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