Madonna comes through late to top CCHS

Blue Dons score twice in the final four minutes to break a deadlock

STEUBENVILLE -- Coming off a heartbreaking first loss a week prior and seeing another two score lead get away, it was gut check time for the Madonna football team in the fourth quarter Saturday night - and it responded.

With the game deadlocked and time winding down, the Blue Dons made a couple of big plays on both sides of the ball in the closing minutes to leave Harding Stadium with a 29-14 win that was much more hard-fought than that score would indicate.

"That was a great game," Madonna head coach Mauro Monz said. "It was a rivalry game, we talked about that all week, our community talked about all week how it was going to be a knockout, drag out game and it was. Central played an awesome game, We're very fortunate to come out with the win.

"We only have four seniors, but we have great senior leaders. We went on the road last week (at Vienna Mathews) and lost a heartbreaker in the last 38 seconds and came into this week in a rivalry game like this, it was just good senior leadership in the locker room and our coaches did a great job all week getting these guys prepared."

After taking a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, only to see the Crusaders (1-5) draw even by halftime, and having its offense bottled up for most of the second half, Madonna (3-1) re-gained the lead with just 3:35 to play when Lucas McAllister fired a pass to Shawn McFarland on a crossing pattern and he broke a couple of tackles and went 54-yards to the the end zone.

On the ensuing drive, Central got a first down and was looking to answer until Andre Crossland picked off an Andrew Dorsey pass and returned it deep into the Crusaders' end, setting up a 21-yard McAllister touchdown scramble on a fourth-and-15 to make it a two-score game with 1:19 to go.

Jonah McKay, who opened the scoring for Madonna with a 64-yard score on the first drive of the game, then stepped in front of another Dorsey pass to seal the deal. McKay also tipped the ball to set up Crossland's pick.

"We never didn't have the lead," Monz said. "We jumped out, and give (Central's) kids credit, they fought hard and came back, and our kids fought hard and were able to finish it out at the end."

In addition to the two late interceptions, Central also lost three fumbles.

"Me and coach Monz both said after the game both teams fought really hard," Central head coach Eric Meek said. "We're a much better football team than we were four or five weeks ago, but give Madonna credit, they caused five turnovers and you can't do that against a good football like Madonna.

"I'm really proud of the kids. Our defense played their tails off and kept giving us another opportunity time and time again. There were some bright spots and we're just going to keep fighting.

"I love these kids. This one stings."

After McKay's long opening score, McAllister ran for a 9-yard score to double the Madonna lead.

The Crusaders had an answer, though, as Dorsey fired 45-yard pass to B.J. Fallon on the final play of the first quarter, then Dorsey ran for an 8-yard score before the break to send the teams to the locker rooms tied at 14-14.

Then the defenses took over until Madonna finally broke through late.

McAllister finished with 279 passing yards on just 12 completions, with five of his connections going for 20-plus yards, and two passing touchdowns to go with his rushing scores.

McFarland finished with 137 yards and the late score on five grabs, while McKay had 102 on three catches.

Dorsey tossed for 259 and rushed for another 26 for the Crusaders, with Tyler Ialenti hauling in five passes for 99 yards.

"Lucas had a couple nice scrambles," Monz said. "They ran a lot of pressure, we knew that they would coming in, they blitz a lot and put a lot of pressure on you, and they're a good defense. So to put up 29 points says a lot about our kids."

CROWNED

Catholic Central senior Gina Crust was crowned the homecoming queen during a halftime ceremony.

UP NEXT

Madonna: Travels south to battle Cameron on Friday night.

Catholic Central: Is back at Harding Stadium next Saturday to host Carrick.

Madonna 29, Catholic Central 14

Madonna 14-0-0-15 - 29

Catholic Central 7-7-0-0 - 14

SCORING

First Quarter

M: McKay 64-yard pass from McAllister (McFarland kick) 10:38

M: McAllister 9-yard run (McFarland kick) 3:31

C: Fallon 45-yard pass from Dorsey (Bolster kick) :00

Second Quarter

C: Dorsey 8-yard run (Bolster kick) 3:48

Third Quarter

None

Fourth Quarter

M: McFarland 59 pass from McAllister (McFarland kick) 3:35

M: McAllister 21-yard run (McKay run) 1:19

RUSHING: Madonna 23-12-2TD (Muzzi 9-2; McKay 1-0; McAllister 11-11-2TD; McFarland 1-(-10); Littleton 2-9); Catholic Central 25-58-TD (Pergi 7-29; Dorsey 15-26-TD; Fallon 3-3)

PASSING: Madonna 12-32-279-2TD (all by McAllister); Catholic Central 15-25-259-TD (all by Dorsey)

RECEIVING: Madonna 12-279-2TD (McKay 3-102-TD; Muzzi 1-13; Littleton 3-27; McFarland 5-137-TD); Catholic Central 15-259-TD (Petrella 2-17; Fallon 4-86-TD; Ialenti 5-99; Pergi 4-57)

FIRST DOWNS: Madonna 7: Catholic Central 12

PENALTIES-YARDS: Madonna 13-76; Catholic Central 5-40

FUMBLES-LOST: Madonna 1-0: Catholic Central 4-3

PUNTS-AVG: Madonna 6-33.7 :Catholic Central 39.6