MT. ST. JOE’S 24 LANDON 14

Landon, for the last three weeks, has faced opponents from conferences known for big time football, linemen with significant weight advantages, running backs who are considered prospects and wide receivers with both size and speed. Today, the Mt. St. Joe’s team, the Baltimore Sun’s #11 ranked team, added  important ingredients—a team that played with discipline and without mistakes. The result was a well fought Bears vs. Gaels game with the home team earning a 24-14.

The Bears took the opening kickoff and drove 78 yards for a TD. Using all sophomore running backs (Jamal François, Johari Johnsonand Colton Rupp), the Bears offense seemed confuse the MSJ defense. Having drawn the Gaels in, Philip Pena found fellow senior WR, 78 yards, Anthony Fullumfor a 50 yard pass gain. Phil dropped back for another pass on a right roll out and was forced to his left; 22 yards later the senior QB scored. Chris Kirtley split the uprights to make it Bears 7 Gaels 0at 8:01 remaining in the 1^st Q. [sorry for not noting the other players who contributed from the critical lines, linebackers, etc. positions; just did not capture all of the data today.]

The home team moved the ball 65 yards in 4 plays, all runs by their super Nevone McCrimmon. He scored and the PAT was successful, tie score, Gaels7 Bears 7 @ 6:47.

The Bears responded with a twelve play possession, but surrendered the ball on a 4^th down. The home team held the ball for eight downs, but it was forced to punt (the clock moved into the 2^nd Q). Clearly the respective defenses stiffened. The Landon team was 5 plays and a punt; the MSJ held the ball for 11 plays only to punt. The visitors ran 4 times and kicked leaving 0:41 seconds left. The Gaels moved the ball and kicked a 37 yard FG with 0:00 left in the half. Gaels 10 Bears 7 (the 1^st time that Landon had trailed an opponent in this 3 game schedule).

The 3^rd quarter saw the home team relinquish the ball after 7 downs and the Bears reciprocate with a 4 and out series. Two successive Gaels’ runs were followed by a Bryan Jangro to Kryee Calli TD bomb. Gales 17 Bears 7 with 5:38 left in this period. The Bears moved the ball (Johnson with a 34 yard run), but the initiative was blunted with an uncharacteristic penalty.

The Gaels looked like they were about to add to their advantage, driving 29 yards in 4 plays, but a pass was tipped by Anthony Fullum and caught for an interception by Peter Lacoas he rolled on the ground. The Bears showed that their competitiveness was not crushed by a 10 point deficit and started a drive that moved the ball and brought the clock into the 4^th Q. The Bears punted, but at this critical juncture, the Bears stifled the Gaels’ #2, forcing a punt. The visitors got the ball with 7:57 remaining in the game, but were unable to gain significant yards.

MSJ got the ball and moved it 70 yards in eight plays, the last of which was a Jangro to Brandon Batts TD pass with less than 4 minutes left. Good PAT. Gaels 24 Bears 7.

This was a moment at which the visitors could have easily collapsed, but instead, the Bears unleashed an aerial attack, the likes of which had not been present for a while. Philip Pena tossed to Anthony, Jeremy Epstein, Johari Johnson and Dominique Seagears, and the Bears, who obviously have a sense of symmetry, scored their last points as they did their 1^st tally—the QB pass/sweep option and a successful Kirtley PAT with 1:22 remaining. Gaels 24 Bears 14

The hosts’ QB “took a knee” three times and graciously eliminated the remaining ticks on the clock.

FINAL SCORE GAELS 24 BEARS 14

[NO STATS, SORRY]

NEXT GAME FRIDAY 9/21 HOME vs. Richmond’s COLLEGIATE 4PM

BSN will have Bear FB Trax and Opponents’ Scores tomorrow. Next week’s posts will include Senior Profilesand BJPreview.