Generals Run Through Cardinals, 28-21
CUA comeback falls short
10/6/2007
LEXINGTON, Va. - The Catholic University football team (4-2, 0-2
ODAC) ran out of time versus the Washington and Lee Generals (3-1,
1-1 ODAC) Saturday afternoon in Virginia. After leading at
the half the Cards were looking at a 14-point deficit early in the
fourth quarter. Per usual CUA staged a big comeback but ran
out of time to fall 28-21.
The Generals scored first when quarterback R.J. Varner completed
a pair of passes over 15 yards each and found Andrew Wilbourn in
the end zone on the second throw to make it 7-0. On their
next drive the W&L offense once again took advantage of the
Cardinal defense and marched down into the red zone. This
time, however, the Cards were able to hold them to just a 35-yard
field goal.
The Generals kept the momentum to start the second quarter and
on their opening drive had a chance at another FG but missed
short. This gave the Cards the opening they had been looking
for as the game shifted into the visitor's favor. After a
short offensive drive, the Cards punted but General returnman
Stuart Sitterson fumbled the ball which was recovered by Christian
Pavik (Hereford, Md./Hereford). CUA put together a long
11-play drive but was forced to attempt the 33-yard field goal
which missed wide left.
Despite the miss, the Cardinals continued to step up their game
and forced another turnover late in the second quarter as Anthony
DelBorrell (Laurel, Md./DeMatha) intercepted Varner's pass on the
first play of the drive giving CUA the ball at the W&L
24. Keith Ricca (Poolesville, Md./St. John's Prospect Hall)
completed three passes in a row including a 12-yard shot to Miles
Sabrick in the endzone to make the score 10-7 after Brendan
Deluca's (Gambrills, Md./St. Mary's) kick went through the
uprights.
With less than a minute to play the defense forced another
turnover as when Achille Kolla (Rockville, Md./Bethesda-Chevy
Chase) intercepted Varner and returned it 19 yards. Ricca
once again completed three passes including a 32-yard pickup to
Andrew Buis (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg). His final throw
was to Stevie Hendley (Annandale, Va./Bishop O'Connell) who ran it
in to make the score 14-10 at the half.
The Cardinals came out in the second half with momentum but on
W&L's first drive the Generals went down and hit a 28-yard
field goal to make the score 14-13. The third quarter was
tough for CUA as they were constantly pushed back deep into their
own territory to start each drive.
The poor field position was advantageous for the Generals who
rolled down the field behind the running of Ty Pacicco to score in
the beginning of the fourth. The two-point conversion from
Varner to Pacicco was good to make the score 21-14 in favor of
W&L. This score also stalled the Cardinal run as they
were once again looking at a deficit.
After CUA went three and out its first drive of the fourth
quarter, the Generals made a bit more distance when once again
Pacicco rumbled down the field and into the end zone to go up by
14. For most teams 14 points in 11 minutes would be a
daunting task especially after Ricca threw an interception on the
next Cardinal drive, but this was a familiar situation for the
Cards who regrouped as the second ticked away.
With two minutes to go, CUA was still clawing back after the
defense had held the Generals scoreless in the final 11
minutes. Ricca sparked the run hitting Sabrick with a 38-yard
pass and then finding him once more, this time in the end zone for
27 yards and the TD to cut the deficit to seven.
With 28 seconds on the clock the Cards attempted the onside kick
and recovered it to give them one last shot. While the clock
would have normally ran out, the Generals committed a personal foul
on the play forcing CUA to play it out since a game cannot end on a
defensive penalty. CUA quarterback John Jacobs (Gaithersburg,
Md./Gaithersburg) took the shotgun snap but had no time and was
sacked but in the process fumbled the ball which was picked up by
his teammate Rich Brennan (Summit, N.J./St. Peter's Prep).
The freshman ran for 22 yards before he was tackled which ended the
game 28-21.
The Cards held the advantage in the air 226 yards to 104 but
were killed on the ground 265 yards to 45. Ricca completed 22
of 28 passes on the day for 227 yards, three touchdowns and just
one interception. Jacobs completed one of three passes.
Rich Barry (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington) led the Cardinal running
backs with 34 yards and W&L's Pacicco led all on the ground
with 195 yards. DelBorrell had ten tackles and an
interception on the day for the Cardinal defense.
CUA will have next weekend off before gearing up for the
remaining four games of the ODAC season.
