The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
BENGALS HAND LIONS FIRST DEFEAT OF ’18
Sophomore’s running, late interceptions key NCL Blue victory
The youthful Benedictine football team went through some growing pains through the first six weeks of the season.
But on Oct. 6 against visiting Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, a Bengals team that struggled to run the ball effectively all year, did.
And a team that had failed to get big defensive stops in the first six weeks, did.
Sophomore Jovan Goodson ran for a career-high 162 yards and three touchdowns, and the Bengals intercepted two passes late in the fourth quarter, paving the way for a 30-26 come-from-behind victory over the previously unbeaten and state-ranked Lions.
“We came in 2-4 and nobody believed we could beat them,” said sophomore Andre Rodgers, whose interception with less than a minute remaining cemented Benedictine’s victory. “We came in and we shocked the world. All we’ve got is us. No one thought we’d win this game but us, so all we need is us.”
NDCL had leads of 6-0, 12-7, 20-14, 26-14, 26-21 and 26-24, but could not hold on to any of them.
The loss puts NDCL at 6-1 overall and 1-1 in the Blue Division of the NCL, while Benedictine is 3-4 (1-1).
But it’s a young team that’s growing up right before Coach Carter Welo’s eyes.
“We went through the gauntlet of our nonconference season and then had a tough (league opener) against Hoban,” Welo said. “Same thing as last year, we kind of control our own destiny. If we can continue to be 1-0 each week, we’re going to give our shot at the postseason.”
When NDCL’s Jack Robinson snapped off a 49-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter, giving the Lions a 26-14 lead, the postseason was far from Benedictine’s mind.
But then Goodson ended the third quarter with a 59-yard touchdown run to make it a one-score game at 26-21.
Goodson had a monster game for the Bengals. He came into the game with 126 rushing yards on the season, but finished the game with 27 carries for 162 yards.
“They did a nice job of taking what they were given,” said NDCL coach Andrew Mooney of Benedictine running the ball when the Lions took away the passing game. “They called a good game.
Early in the fourth quarter, Benedictine’s Ivan Shuran narrowed the gap to 26-24 with a 38-yard field goal.
Unable to run out the clock, NDCL punted to ball back to Benedictine. Nick Demchuk hit Rodgers on fourth-and-6 for seven yards to keep the drive alive. A few plays later, a shovel pass to Christopher Gales put Benedictine on
the NDCL 12.
Shortly thereafter, Goodson went in from the 12 for the go-ahead score with 1:24 left.
Kharon Fletcher and Rodgers each picked off passes in the final 84 seconds to thwart any NDCL rally.
“We buckled down,” Welo said of his team’s defense. “Guys like Kharon Fletcher and Andre Rodgers, two sophomores who played in big moments when we lost, like at Shaker, now were in big moments when we win.”
The yardage battle was every bit as close as the score, with Benedictine holding a 378-362 advantage.
Robinson produced his second 200-yard rushing game in a row, running 17 times for 203 yards. He had a 64-yard touchdown run on his team’s opening drive to go with the 49-yard scoring jaunt in the third quarter.
Nick Gattozzi threw for 86 yards and a touchdown to David Martin-Kosier, but was picked off three times.
Dominic Roberts had a nine-yard touchdown run in the first half for the Lions.
NDCL will try to regroup in Week 8 against Walsh Jesuit.
“I told them you should not feel good right now,” Mooney said. “Use this pain to motivate you the rest of the year. Remember how you feel right now and do everything you can not to feel this way again.”
Aside from Goodson’s career day rushing, the Bengals got 165 passing yards from Demchuk, with Charles Rosser catching five passes for 172 yards.
Benedictine travels to Lake Catholic in Week 9.
“The last two years since I’ve been here, it’s gone down to the wire,” said Welo, citing last year’s 31-24 overtime win at Lion Stadium. “I wish it was a little bit easier, but I’m glad we were on the winning side.”