Cortaz powers ND past Hightstown
HIGHTSTOWN >> Considering Hightstown came into Friday night’s game with 15 rushing touchdowns in four games, shutting down the Rams’ running game is no small feat.
But the Notre Dame High football team did just that, smothering Hightstown defensively and improving its record to 4-1 for the first time since 2012 with a 28-7 victory at David J. McIntire Field.
“It feels great — all the hard work we put in in the offseason,” senior lineman/tight end Tristan Tritt said. “The coaches come up with great game plans each week, and we’ve just been going out there and executing. We’ve really gelled as a team, so I think we’re going to continue to do well.”
Tritt, Coleon Williams and Ryan McCabe each had a sack during the second half. The Irish limited Hightstown (3-2) to less than 50 yards of total offense on the night.
The Rams went threeand-out on their first seven possessions and failed to gain a first down until the 2:23 mark in the third quarter. Hightstown’s singlewing attack has proven difficult to stop for other Mercer County teams, but the Irish matched up well physically and played disciplined.
Jake Renda, Ryan McCabe and Ryan Monaco were among the other standouts on Notre Dame’s front seven.
“The game plan was stop the sweeps, shut that down, get ‘em out of the single wing and have them spread it out and pass the ball,” Williams said.
“On the defensive line we just needed to play our gaps, hold true to our assignments and we knew it would all work out,” Tritt added.
Offensively, quarterback Robert Buecker and running backs Coleon and Cortaz Williams combined for more than 200 rushing yards.
Buecker had a 4-yard rushing touchdown which extended Notre Dame’s lead to three touchdowns with 2:02 remaining. Tritt and Tim Jones each had a fourth-down reception to move the chains during that game-sealing drive.
The Irish had three drives of at least 40 yards in the first half including a nineplay, 84-yard series at the start of the second quarter.
On second-and-2 from Notre Dame’s 49-yard line, Buecker scrambled up the middle and used his speed in the open field to run 50 yards to Hightstown’s 1-yard line.
After two stuffed runs, Buecker connected with Ryan Landi on a slant for a 3-yard touchdown pass. That gave Notre Dame a 14-7 lead with 8:41 remaining.
Notre Dame’s defense then held Hightstown to two yards on six plays on the Rams’ next two drives.
Working with strong field position at their own 45 on their next possession, the Irish scored another touchdown with 53 seconds left in the quarter to take a 21-7 lead into halftime. After an 8-yard catch by Landi, two runs by Cortaz Williams and a penalty on Hightstown, Cortaz Williams scored on a carry from 15 yards out.
Hightstown’s only points came on defense. Jarrett Justice recovered a fumble on Notre Dame’s first play from scrimmage and returned it for a 25-yard touchdown with 4:57 left in the first quarter.
But on Notre Dame’s ensuing drive, the Irish recovered a muffed punt return by Hightstown and Cortaz Williams rushed for a 25yard touchdown on the very next play.
Ethan Chrissafis converted all four of his extrapoint attempts.
“It was pretty big because Coach says our offense got to get clicking, our defense got to click and our special teams needs to be winning for us to win the game,” Coleon Williams said. “And to get that special teams turnover, it was really good.”
“I think we just took all the momentum back,” Tritt added. “We were really fired up after. We were determined to go put the ball in the end zone.”