CM runs all over SJP
Overcomes 6 turnovers with 426 yards rushing, 5 TDs
From the opening kickoff it was clear that Catholic Memorial’s speed and athleticism was a cut above the rest.
Datrell Jones rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns as the No. 1 Knights totaled 426 rushing yards and five touchdowns to cruise past two-time defending Div. 1 Super Bowl champion St. John’s Prep, 49-24, on Saturday afternoon at Catholic Memorial.
Despite finishing the day with just one passing yard and piling up six turnovers, the Knights (2-0) still managed to control the game offensively. Behind an offensive line of Timmy Bruen, Edwards Ellis, Tom Crean, TJ Roberson and Quinch Plummer, the Knights ran wild with five different guys cashing in on rushing touchdowns. Jones, Owen McGowan, Carson Harwood, Kyle King and Devon Marshall all scored on the ground while Jones added an 88-yard kick return for a score and Zach Mitchell had a 64-yard scoop and score.
“A day like today shows how scary our offense can be when we’re clicking,” McGowan said. “Today and against St. John’s (Shrewsbury) we started slow with turnovers. Despite that, though, we were able to pick up points in a hurry. It’s an impressive group.”
St. John’s Prep forced six turnovers on the day, including four interceptions, but could only turn them into 10 points.
McGowan did it all for CM on Saturday, playing under center in the Knights’ double-tight formation, setting up as a slot wide receiver, playing middle linebacker, and appearing on the Knights’ special teams unit.
“When is someone going to nominate (McGowan) for Gatorade Player of the Year? He should’ve won it last year,” Knights coach John DiBiaso said. “Our offensive line put us on their backs. I’ve never coached a game where we turned the ball over six times and still won but we had a lot of confidence in our offensive line and had a bunch of backs step up.”
Catholic Memorial held a 21-10 lead late in the first half but the Eagles drew closer as Victor Harrington found Grady McGowan for a 3-yard score to trim the CM lead to 21-16.
The Knights, however, never let the Eagles go in front.
After Catholic Memorial’s defense forced a three-andout, a 36-yard run by McGowan set up a Harwood 6-yard touchdown to put the Knights up 28-16. St. John’s Prep had a chance to draw closer after a Matt Michell interception gave the Eagles good field position, but the Knights defense forced a three-and-out. The Knights then put the game firmly out of reach, going on an 11-play, 83-yard drive capped off by a Jones 4-yard touchdown run to go up 35-16 after three.
Mitchell’s fumble recovery and return for 64 yards and King’s tumble into the end zone from 7 yards out were CM’s final two scores of the day.