Sitting in fifth place in this week’s VISAA Division II power ratings, would St. Anne’s-Belfield mount a push for one of the four playoff spots over their final three games? The Saints were returning from a bye facing a Division I opponent, and their last outing at rival Blue Ridge spiraled into a blowout loss in the second half.
“Guys were hungry,” said St. Anne’s coach Joe Sandoe. “We got after it and hit a little bit in the bye week and kind of righted the ship. We had a couple guys back from injury, which gave us a little spark. It was our homecoming, so there was a lot of energy around the stadium. All of that helped.”
Playing before a rowdy, pink-clad student section, a dozen of whom delivered a choreographed dance to music from Barbie at halftime, STAB delivered an emphatic 45-0 victory over Catholic High School to keep playoff hopes very much alive.
“It means a lot for our team coming off a loss two weeks ago,” said junior Chance Mallory. “In the bye week, we knew there had to be a sense of urgency and it was playoff time.”
Mallory, who was one of several starters that missed the Blue Ridge game, delivered highlight-reel touchdowns in three different modes. He lit up the scoreboard first with a 12-yard jet sweep.
“I just saw my linemen had set great blocks and I knew I just had to get on the outside and finish it,” said Mallory of the play that capped STAB’s six-play opening series, which followed a four-and-out by the Crusaders off the opening kickoff.
“We like our defense to come out strong and play with energy,” said Sandoe. “When they get that stop, obviously it’s what we’re looking for.”
Later in the first quarter, junior Austin Williford delivered the first punt team highlight of the night by blocking a Crusader punt, then scooping the loose ball and racing 26 yards to the endzone. Williford then tallied STAB’s next touchdown via a four-yard reception from senior quarterback Ethan Horner, capping a seven-play, 55-yard drive to make it 21-0 early in the second.
“We’ve got guys who are dangerous at any phase of the game, so it’s fun just to watch them make plays; go out there and be athletic, run around and have some fun,” Sandoe said.
Mallory did just that after the defense forced another Catholic punt with 0:45 left in the half. With a line-drive punt bouncing down the middle of the field, the sideline yelled for players to get away, but Mallory had other plans.
“It bounced right to me, so I knew I had to take the opportunity with the [coverage] not ready,” said Mallory as he scooped the ball, started left, then reversed field and beat the coverage around the right edge to go 67 yards to the house.
Thanks to a forced-fumble on Catholic’s next play from scrimmage, the Saints got one more scoring chance. Sophomore kicker Tim Hamann drilled a 39-yard field goal at the horn to make it 31-0 at the break. It capped a solid half for Hamann, who also uncorked a 53-yard punt.
STAB set up a running clock after Horner hit sophomore Ryan Steeper down the middle for a 25-yard touchdown five minutes into the third quarter. The defense kept it rolling and preserved the shutout after Catholic reached the STAB 12 on their ensuing series, forcing back-to-back incompletions by quarterback Patrick Falcon and another turnover-on-downs.
Then it was time for Mallory’s final highlight: an 87-yard catch-and-run touchdown that saw him sprint through and well past the Crusaders’ secondary.
“Great play call and great throw, couldn’t have asked for a better pass,” said Mallory. “He led me right where I needed to be, and I just had to turn on the wheels.”
The Saints’ defense snuffed out two fourth-quarter series with a fumble recovery by senior Nasir Holmes and a pick by Steeper. Catholic (3-4) managed just 119 yards of offense in the game.
Horner finished 10-of-17 passing for 258 yards, with three touchdowns and two first-half interceptions. Seven different Saints caught passes. Eighth grader Cam Williford led all rushers with 66 yards on seven carries.
STAB (5-2) hosts Isle of Wight Academy (1-5) next Friday at 7pm before wrapping up the regular season at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy on November 3rd.
