St. Anthony's linebacker Kyle O'Donnell provides spark as Friars beat Chaminade, 44-10
Chaminade quarterback Nicholas Crennan, left, throws a pass under pressure from St. Anthony's Kyle O'Donnell during the first quarter of a CHSFL game at Chaminade High School on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014. Credit: James Escher
In a game filled with key defensive plays by St. Anthony's, it was an early forced turnover that made the biggest difference, according to Friars quarterback Steven Genova.
"It set the tone," Genova said after the Friars defeated host Chaminade, 44-10, Sunday in a CHSFL AAA game.
Genova was referring to St. Anthony's linebacker Kyle O'Donnell, who recovered a fumble forced by defensive lineman Pete Corbett on the Flyers' first drive of the game. It set the Friars up on Chaminade's 20.
"That was huge for momentum because it was early in the game, they were home and they had the ball in their first drive," said O'Donnell, who made 11 tackles, including three for losses. "That was critical."
Genova took it from there.
On the first play of the ensuing drive for the Friars, Genova faked a handoff to running back Jordan Gowins, kept the ball, rolled left, broke a tackle and scampered 20 yards for the game's first touchdown.
"That fumble recovery just gave us confidence on offense," Genova said. "It was perfect."
Genova completed 9 of 13 passes for 105 yards and one touchdown, and ran for 66 yards and the TD on six carries. Gowins had 142 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries and also caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Genova.
Evan Killen added touchdown runs of 9 and 6 yards. Kwesi Thomas-Henderson returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.
But enough about the Friars' offense. It was the defense that turned heads -- and turned away scoring chances for Chaminade (1-2). "The defense made our job on offense easy today," Genova said. "Whenever we needed a stop, they provided one. We fed off the plays the defense was making."
In the second quarter with St. Anthony's leading 13-3, Chaminade attempted to pass on both second-and-10 and third-and-10 from the St. Anthony's 20. Cornerback Andre Guthrie Jr. deflected both passes and forced Chaminade to attempt a field goal that was no good.
St. Anthony's scored on the ensuing drive.
Later in the second quarter, when Chaminade decided to go for it on a fourth-and-10 from St. Anthony's 10-yard line, Corbett made a tackle for a loss.
Again, St. Anthony's scored on its ensuing drive.
Then in the third quarter, O'Donnell sacked quarterback Nick Crennan on fourth-and-5 from the Friars' 14.
Yup, you got it: St. Anthony's again scored right away.
"I think we played well. I mean, I guess we did," O'Donnell said. "We scouted them all week, so I think we could've played even better."
Said Genova: "I don't know how."
