DeMatha football returned to their winning ways against the Avalon Black Knights on Friday, September 1. The Stags managed 28 points in the first half and coasted to a shutout victory after suffering a defeat in their opening game.
The new streak had to be started by junior, backup quarterback Eric Najarian because Tyler Lenhart was sick all week. DeMatha flexed their depth and dominance in the state of Maryland by managing the football game against a solid Avalon team who was befuddled from the start. Najarian mixed in quick slashing routes and running back Myles Miree darted for a first quarter score that kept the DeMatha Stags ahead of the Black Knights.
The DeMatha defense took care of everything else. Despite several penalties, the Stags never lost their composure and held on to preserve their first scoreless game since October 21, 2016. Avalon struggled to move the ball mainly because they lost the battle up front, and the DeMatha defensive line bullied the Black Knights into multiple third-and-impossibly-long situations. It isn’t that much of the stretch to believe that the entire defensive unit had something to prove after relinquishing 35 points on ESPN last week, but they bounced back nonetheless and proved their point.
Defensive ends Austin Fontaine and John Morgan were the usual culprits in a hard pursuit of the Avalon quarterback that prevented rhythmic drop-back passing needed to connect the deep ball. The Avalon running game didn’t fare much better opting to move away from the strength of the DeMatha defensive line with sweeps to the outside. Neither strategy worked for Avalon and the DeMatha linebackers and secondary were also creating problems of their own. DeMarcco Hellams came up with huge tackles chasing down running backs from the weak side safety position. Dominic Logan-Nealy took advantage of Avalon special teams woes and nabbed an interception.
The Avalon punter wasn’t able to recover much field position and the Black Knights often went for it on fourth down no matter the distance. This, more than any other aspect of the game, spelled the end for a team that was already facing the tall order of beating the Stags after a rare defeat. A productive running game behind a powerful offensive line is the reason why DeMatha football head coach Elijah Brooks was 58-12 before last night’s contest. DeMatha was able to integrate the reserve units after Najarian threw for a score to tight end Anthony Toro to make the score 21-0 with under three minutes to go in the first half. DeMatha added another score on the ground just before the break and would then grind Avalon down through the sheer time of possession.
New running backs were able to get some work done for the Stags and eventually DeMatha would put freshman quarterback Trace Campbell under center. Safety Nick Cross and linebacker Alec Solano put the finishing touches on the game in the second half and seemed to be everywhere. Avalon threatened to score twice in the fourth quarter with separate trips to the red zone but the DeMatha team defense was having none of it. Nick Cross broke up a good share of long passing plays and Alec Solano had a forced fumble and recovery to end a Black Knight drive.
The Stags will continue their six game home stand against Franklin High School of Reirstertown, Maryland next week. You can check out the next five home games on the DMStagsTV network and watch DeMatha football live streams and replays there.
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