Crusaders defense dominates in cross-league showdown victory
Stambaugh notches 100th career win in 13 seasons between ND-GP, Pius X
If Notre Dame-Green Pond is to return to District 11 Class 3A supremacy, it will need to play stellar defense.
North Schuylkill got a taste of what coach Phil Stambaugh’s club is capable of in Friday night’s Colonial-Schuylkill League showdown.
The Crusaders turned four interceptions and a fumble recovery into 22 points and twice stopped the Spartans on fourth down in the second half of a 36-24 victory.
Dainn Vassallo, Josh Ludlow, Brenden Ferraro and James Wisecarver had interceptions and Lucas Castro recovered a fumble for the Crusaders, who never trailed after Danny Darno hit Josh Ludlow with a 68-yard TD pass after one of those miscues midway through the second half.
“I feel like there’s a stigma around Notre Dame’s offense,” Vassallo said. “We just put up points, but it felt great to get out there as a defense and really inflict our will on somebody.
“We were working for this for awhile. It’s a big rivalry for us. It was great for us as a team, as an organization.”
The Crusaders’ win ended a three-game losing streak in the series against the two-time defending district champion Spartans.
It also marked Stambaugh’s 100th career win in 13 seasons between Notre Dame-GP and Pius X.
“The kids are buying into playing situation football,” Stambaugh said. “It’s a pitching staff mentality where everyone needs to do their part. They have to be able to put it all together, and they did that the last two weeks.
Darno connected with A.J. Lozano for three other touchdown passes, twice in the second half, and Wisecarver returned a kickoff 94 yards for a score.
Notre Dame-GP generated three turnovers in the first half, the first two produced touchdowns.
The first came on fourth down on North Schuylkill’s first possession when Mason Ludlow hit quarterback Trevor Minalda and Lucas Castro recovered at the Crusaders’ 41-yard line.
Three plays later, Darno hit A.J. Lozano for a 54-yard touchdown pass at the 6:25 mark of the first quarter.
North Schuylkill responded with a field goal and a three-and-out on Notre Dame-GP’s next series. The Spartans then drove 52 yards in 10 plays for the go-ahead touchdown, an 11-yard pass from Minalda to Collin Stanakis.
The Spartans got a fourth-down stop on the next defensive series, then drove to the Crusaders’ 27. But Dainn Vassallo stepped in front of a Minalda pass at the 16 and returned it 16 yards.
On the next play, Darno hit Josh Ludlow on a deep post for a 68-yard TD pass. The two connected on the two-point pass for a 15-10 lead.
“I knew [Darno] was going to throw to me the whole way,” Ludlow said. “I just got open, caught it and made a good run [to the end zone].”
North Schuylkill had 15 first downs in the first half, but also hurt itself with three holding penalties.
Ludlow intercepted a Minalda pass on the next series but the Spartans held on fourth down.
Notre Dame-GP’s defense continued its stellar play in the second half.
“I’m happy to get this win here against them,” Stambaugh said, “to turn this tide. Our kids needed this win.”
Up next
Notre Dame-GP (5-1) visits Northern Lehigh (5-1) at 7 p.m. Friday. North Schuylkill (4-2) travels to Jim Thorpe (3-3), also at 7 Friday.