Browns holding home field advantage

Lake Catholic improves to 5-3 after dropping three of previous four games

Addressing his assembled team at one end of Jerome T. Osborne Stadium on Oct. 13, Lake Catholic coach Scott O’Donnell leaped into the air, and pumping his fist yelled, “Are we back?” The reply from the Cougars came in unison: “Yeah!”

O’Donnell’s question had already been answered on the field, as Lake Catholic, seemingly overlooked and forgotten after dropping three of their previous four games, decisively defeated NCL Blue rival Benedictine, 35-17. The Bengals were coming off a big victory of their own, having knocked off NDCL on Oct. 6.

After falling behind the Bengals, 10-0, in the first quarter, the Cougars took control of both sides of the line of scrimmage and scored five of the next six touchdowns. The offensive line opened up huge holes for its hard-running backs, who piled up 344 yards on 40 rushing attempts for an 8.8 per-carry average. On the other side of the ball, the Cougars’ defense kept up the pressure on Benedictine QB Nick Demchuk.

It also contained the Bengals running game to the tune of 53 yards on 29 attempts for a 1.8 yards per carry average.

“(Benedictine) Coach (Carter) Welo does a great job with those guys, and we knew it was going to be

a battle,” O’Donnell said. “We’ve had epic battles with them all through the years. Great game, great team win. It feels awesome. I just told the kids, that’s one of three, and it’s on to the next one. Got to get to 1-0 vs. NDCL.”

The game was every bit what one would expect from these long-time rivalshard-hitting, emotional, even chippy at times. With

computer points and league positioning on the line, it seemed the result would boil down to which team wanted it more. From the second quarter on, led by its big lines and ball carriers, the Cougars showed they wanted it just a little more.

In the first stanza, however, Benedictine (3-5, 1-2 NCL Blue) appeared to be in control. After an initial exchange of punts, Ivan

PAUL DICICCO — FOR THE NEWS-HERALD Lake Catholic’s Nate Rieple fights for yards against Benedictine on Oct. 13 at Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium.

PAUL DICICCO — FOR THE NEWS-HERALD Lake Catholic’s Logan Campola tries to tackle Benedictine’s Logan Hyduke on Oct. 13 at Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium.

PAUL DICICCO — THE NEWS-HERALD Lake Catholic’s Aaron Leovic celebrates a touchdown with teammates Oct. 13 against Benedictine.