Pulling out all the stops
Notre Dame-GP players head up list of Colonial League defensive honorees
Even in a season without COVID-19, there are practices whena semi-live drill gets too ‘live.’ Somebody hits a teammate too hard.
It happens late in preseason workouts, when hitting a teammate has gotten stale. It happens the week after a loss.
It is happening often this season at Notre Dame-Green Pond, and it’s often
the same defensive player stirring the pot: senior linebacker Joey Rivituso.
“Heflies around, makes plays,” coach Phil Stambaugh said. “We have to stop him from hitting our guys in practice. He tries to hit everybody.
“He’s taken that into the games and is really playing well.”
Rivituso’s personality fits Notre Dame-GP’s new-look defense, which was stellar in last Friday’s 27-0 win at Palisades. Rivituso and Co. limited the Colonial League’s leading rusher, Mason
Smeland, to 36 yards on 11 carries.
First-year defensive coordinator Andre Jordan revamped the Crusaders’ look to encourage aggressiveness. Rivituso, the team’s leading tackler, and William Jordan, whose 10 tackles for a loss and 10 hurries this season are tops on the club, are the anchors of what is fast becoming the Colonial League’s best defense and the best defense in Stambaugh’s tenure.
“It’s a whole new Notre Dame defense,” William Jordan said. “New schemes. We’re coming after guys. We’ve got a plan for everybody. We’re a very aggressive team and we love it.”
Stambaugh-coached teams long have established themselves as solid and versatile offensively. This year’s team is no different. The Crusaders are averaging a Colonial League-best 45.3 points per game.
This year’s defense, however, has taken offense to not getting recognized
in the same breath. After all, it is yielding a league-low 14 points per contest.
“We’ve got athletic kids and kids moving around,” Stambaugh said. “Andre Jordan puts us in good positions with how we’re attacking the other team’s offense.
“I’m very proud of him.” Notre Dame-GP is the league’s lone unbeaten team at 6-0, though Northwestern also is 4-0 in the league. Sadly, those two won’t meet in the abbreviated regular season and are in different classifications for the District 11 playoffs.
The Crusaders are in second place in the Class 3A ratings. Northwestern is third in 4A.
It is safe to say, though, that Notre Dame-GP is in better position to win a district title because it is more balanced. It can survive adverse weather conditions or a night when it commits nine penalties like it did last Friday at Palisades.
It also is safe to say that even though Rivituso or Jordan often are involved in a big defensive play, they have plenty of help.
That was on full display against the Pirates.
“All our coaches talked about all week was rally, rally, rally,” Rivituso said. “All we did was gang tackle.”
“Everyone did their part,” William Jordan said. “It was an every-man job.”
Colonial League/ Schuylkill League Week 6 stat leaders
OwenCoffield, Northwestern: The senior defensive end had 10 tackles, including a sack in a 39-28 win at Salisbury. He leads the Tigers with 49 tackles, including eight for a loss.
Jake Fauzio, Southern Lehigh: The senior running back ran for 96 yards and three TDs in a win over Catasauqua.
Matt Frame, Northern Lehigh: The junior ran for 92 yards, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion in Saturday’s 35-14 win at Pen Argyl. The Bulldogs racked up 288 yards and all five TDs on the ground.
Matt Frauen, Notre Dame-GP: The senior running back ran for 119 yards and two scores. He also caught two passes for 49 yards.
Ben Haubert, Palisades: Despite a heavily wrapped hand, the senior linebacker had double-digit tackles and would have had a sack if not for a hold (which was called) as he was about to make the hit. He is the team’s leading tackler against this year.
Justin Holmes, Northwestern: The quarterback ran for a career-high 243 yards and one touchdown in the victory at Salisbury. The Tigers racked up 372 yards and five touchdowns.
William Jordan, Notre Dame-GP: The senior made seven tackles and forced a fumble that led to the game-clinching touchdown in the third quarter of a 27-0 victory over Palisades.
Collin McKeague, Pen Argyl: The senior receiver caught six passes for 106 yards against Northern Lehigh.
Nasir McLean, Catasauqua: The freshman quarterback completed six passes for 111 yards and a touchdown, a 30-yarder to Brandon Jenny against Southern Lehigh.
Dante Mahaffey, Saucon
Valley: The junior quarterback had 164 passing yards and four TDs and ran for 157 yards and two scores in a comeback win over Palmerton.
Toby Linn, Salisbury: The sophomore linebacker had a team-high 10 tackles against Northwestern.
Chad Parton, Salisbury: The senior receiver had 11 catches for 174 yards and one touchdown against Northwestern. Headded a rushing touchdown, made seven tackles and forced one fumble.
Collin Quintano, Notre Dame-GP: The junior completed 19 of 26 passes for 259 yards and one touchdown in a 27-0 win at Palisades.
Jared Reto, Bangor: The senior had a team-high eight tackles and caught three passes against Wilson.
Joey Rivituso, Notre Dame-GP: The senior linebacker had a team-high 12 tackles in the shutout win over Palisades, including two for loss. He leads the Crusaders with 56 tackles in six games.
Cole Serfass, Palmerton: The sophomore quarterback threw for 91 yards and two TDs, ran for 84 yards and two scores and made eight tackles at linebacker at Saucon Valley.
Damon Simpson, Wilson: The junior defensive back made six tackles and had one interception in Wilson’s 14-0 win at Bangor.
Quintin Stephens, Salisbury: The senior quarterback passed for 249 yards and three touchdowns, rushed for 53 yards, made four tackles and recovered one fumble against Northwestern.