Notre Dame 28, Leo 0, at Notre Dame on Oct. 18
A Senior Night Homecoming crowd, a raucous student section, a 2-5 Notre Dame team with a chip of disappointment on its shoulder … it all added up to more than Leo’s football team could handle on a trip to Niles Friday night.
Throw in three turnovers and a self-destructive 113 yards in penalties and the most surprising thing about the 28-0 final score is that it wasn’t more one-sided.
Which speaks to the grit that continues to characterize the Lions’ play despite an unsightly 1-7 record. But they were their own worst enemies during a second quarter in which bad-snap fumbles set up two of the three touchdowns the Dons (3-5) scored to take over the game.
Sophomore Throy Nightingale got both of them on 3- and 5-yard runs, along with a 2-yard TD scoot to cap Notre Dame’s first possession of the period.
The Dons were relentless rather than remarkable as Matt Childers needed 15 carries to amass 50 yards and Nightingale added 38 yards on eight tries. In fact, a 27-yard screen-pass hookup from junior quarterback Luke Dickey to Childers was their only “gash” play of the evening.
But Dickey was admirably efficient, completing 7 of 8 passes for 89 yards and scoring ND’s final touchdown on a 5-yard run in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, Leo’s Javon Logan had a 30-yard run on his way to 91 yards on 14 carries, and one of Derrick Davis’ desperation scrambles went for 33 yards. But every time the Lions ventured into Notre Dame territory they set themselves back with a penalty – blindside-block calls were a particular favorite – or a turnover (two lost fumbles and an interception).
As a consequence they were shut out for the third time in four weeks. The frosh-soph team was blanked as well, taking a 21-0 whipping from the Dons in the preliminary game.
Next up for Leo: The season finale vs. Marmion Academy, which will be playing for its IHSA playoff life after falling to 4-4 in a 42-0 loss to Marist. The Senior Day kickoff will take place at 1 p.m. at St. Rita’s Cronin Field.
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