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Bellarmine University Athletics

SFB Team Photo at CCSJ 11/2
F. Badua

Sprint Football’s Season Ends With 42-13 Loss to CCSJ in MSFL Semifinal Round

Knights unable to overcome big early deficit

11/2/2024 10:32:00 PM

Box Score WHITING, Ind. — Bellarmine Knights Sprint Football saw its season end with a 42-13 road loss to the Calumet College of St. Joseph's Crimson Wave in the semifinal round of the Midwestern Sprint Football League Playoffs.  With the loss, the Knights end their season with an overall record of 4-3.

Derrik Gant gave Bellarmine momentum to begin the game with a kickoff return to the Knights' 45 yard line.  However, Bellarmine was unable to take advantage, failing to gain a first down and ultimately turning the ball over on downs as Brenden Reid was stuffed on a 4th and 1 attempt.  CCSJ took possession and marched 54 yards down the field for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.  On Bellarmine's next drive, Kyle Horvath was intercepted on a deep pass and the Crimson Wave immediately made the Knights pay with a 75-yard touchdown run to put Bellarmine in an early 14-0 hole.

CCSJ's defense kept the Bellarmine offense stifled for the remainder of the first quarter, as the Knights were unable to sustain drives and had multiple big plays called back by holding penalties.  Bellarmine's best opportunity to put points on the board came early in the second quarter after a CCSJ fake punt was stuffed at their own 33.  The Knights drove down to the CCSJ seven yard line, but once again failed to convert on a fourth down.

The Crimson Wave put together another drive down to the Bellarmine 21, but a missed field goal kept it a 14-0 game.  The Knights responded by putting together their best drive of the night, as Horvath hooked up with 10-yard passes to Gant on back-to-back plays, the second of which was further aided by a CCSJ personal foul penalty.  The drive was capped off by a 39 yard touchdown pass from Horvath to Shannon Tonge.  A blocked extra point made the score 14-6.  Vernon Duncan forced and recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, giving the Knights possession at the CCSJ 38, but an unnecessary roughness penalty backed the Knights up to their own 43 and led to a punt.  Two plays into their next drive, CCSJ hit a 50-yard pass play and subsequently scored another touchdown to make it 21-6 at halftime.

CCSJ kept up the pressure to start the second half, returning the kickoff to the Bellarmine 21.  Four plays later, the Crimson Wave scored again to make it 28-6.  After back-to-back three-and-outs, a near-block on a punt gave the Knights possession at midfield.  The Knights drove to the CCSJ 27, but again failed to convert on fourth down.  After a holding penalty was followed by an intentional grounding penalty, the Crimson Wave were forced to punt from their own seven.  Royce Hall made the most of the opportunity by blocking the punt which was then recovered by the Knights for a touchdown to make it 28-13.

The Knights' defense continued to stand tall, affording Bellarmine another opportunity near the end of the third quarter.  Bellarmine drove down to the CCSJ two yard line, but were once again stopped on fourth down.  CCSJ responded with a 98-yard touchdown drive to effectively put the game away.  After four straight Horvath incompletions, CCSJ added another score to make the final margin 29.

Horvath finished the game 18-of-41 for 158 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.  Tonge led the Knights in receiving yardage with 62 on three receptions.  Gant had six receptions for 45 yards while Reid had four catches for 29 yards to go along with 39 yards on 13 carries.

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