LOUISVILLE, Ky.— In Bellarmine's final game of the season, the Knights fell to Quincy by a final score of 24-14 at St. Xavier High School on Saturday evening.
Bellarmine (4-3) played its first ever post-season game in program history after finishing third in the Midwest Sprint Football League regular season standings. Despite the final score, almost everything in the first half went the Knights' way.
In fact, Bellarmine gave Quincy practically no chance to do anything through the first quarter. BU's opening drive went 55 yards and was capped by a six-yard
Brenden Reid touchdown run. Quincy went three-and-out on the ensuing possession, which set Bellarmine up for another long drive. The Knights then put together a monster 19-play, 67-yard drive that lasted over 11 minutes. The result was another touchdown scamper by Reid, and Bellarmine led 14-0 three minutes into the second quarter.
In the first half, Bellarmine held a massive time of possession advantage – holding the ball for 22:30 compared to Quincy's 7:30.
Quincy changed the tone of the game, however, right away in the third quarter. Trailing 14-0, the Hawks relied on Hector Ramirez who rushed the ball eight times on the opening drive of the half. Ramirez and quarterback Taylor Klusmeyer led a 10-play 58-yard drive for a touchdown to cut the lead to 14-7.
Two possessions later, Klusmeyer found Exavior Hinton for a 10-yard touchdown pass to tie the game with two minutes left in the third period.
Bellarmine had its opportunities to drive and take the lead, helped out by a missed field goal off the cross-bar from Quincy to start the fourth quarter. The Knights offense was unable to ever get going in the second half though as Bellarmine generated just three total first downs in the third and fourth quarters.
A pair of fourth quarter scores ultimately sealed it for the Hawks. Klusmeyer found Elijah Leasman for a 32-yard touchdown with nine minutes remaining, and Ethan Beroiza cashed in on a 30-yard field goal with 3:33 left to lock up the 24-14 victory.
For the game, Quincy outgained Bellarmine 281-175 and 191-100 on the ground.
Brenden Reid led Bellarmine in rushing with 76 on the ground and two touchdowns. On defense,
Caleb Murray and
Devan Hendricks each had a team-high 12 tackles. D.J. Griffin had Bellarmine's lone interception on the night and returned it for 28 yards.
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