Shamrock Defense Shuts Out Lions
September 15, 2008

The Saint Patrick Shamrocks kept their record perfect with a 14-0 victory over the Lions of St. Viator on Friday September 12. Fullback Adam Nitsche provided all of the offense that the Shamrocks would need, scoring a pair of rushing touchdowns. The defense, led by Michael Labek and Conor Joyce, made those 14 points stand up, as the Shamrocks recorded their first shutout of the season.

The Lions took the opening kickoff and drove into Shamrock territory before Labek intercepted a Julian Sipiora pass for the Shamrocks. Saint Patrick went three and out on their first possession. The Lions put together a 12-play, 55-yard drive that was stopped on downs at the Shamrock 25. Saint Patrick got the ball out to their own 44 before they were forced to punt. David Kozicki was unable to handle Bill Ruehlman’s punt, and Matt Kleinhubert recovered for the Shamrocks at the Lions’ 13 yard line.

It didn’t take long for the Shamrocks to capitalize as Nitsche broke through the middle of the Lion defense for a touchdown on the Shamrocks’ first play from scrimmage. Ruehlman added the extra point to make the score 7-0 in favor of the Shamrocks at the end of one quarter.

Neither team was able to get much going offensively in the second or third quarters. St. Viator put together a nine play, 40 yard drive, before turning the ball over on downs at the Shamrock 36 in the second quarter. Outside of that drive, the teams combined to gain only 40 yards on 37 plays covering a total of 11 drives over the middle two quarters of the game.

Early in the fourth quarter, with the Shamrocks nursing a 7-0 lead, Labek forced a Lion fumble, which the Shamrocks recovered at their own 49 yard line. Facing third and 16 from the St. Viator 43 yard line, quarterback Dan DiCanio found Patrick Nelson down the middle of the field for a 32 yard gain. Three plays later, on fourth and one from the Lions’ two yard line, Nitsche crashed into the end zone for his second score of the game, finishing a 10-play, 51-yard drive.

The Lions roared back with their best drive of the game, a 15-play, 73-yard drive that left them facing fourth and goal at the Shamrocks’ one yard line. The Lions gave the ball to fullback Nick Niro, who was stopped cold by the Shamrocks’ swarming defense, turning the ball over on downs. The stop marked the third straight week that the Shamrock defense has held on a goal line stand.

Tom Mockler rushed four times for 21 yards and a first down to get the Shamrocks out of the shadow of their own goalposts and ice the game for Saint Patrick.

The Shamrock defense held St. Viator to a total of 202 yards of offense on 60 plays, with 73 of those yards coming on the Lions’ final drive. Middle linebacker Labek enjoyed another stellar game: forcing two fumbles, recording a sack, intercepting a pass, piling up a team-high nine tackles and two tackles for loss. Joyce led the secondary with an interception and eight tackles, many of them on crushing hits.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Shamrocks weren’t spectacular, but they protected the ball and took advantage of the opportunities presented to them. Nitsche led the way with 76 yards on 15 carries. Mockler and Andrew Lapezo chipped in with 26 yards and 21 yards respectively. Quarterback DiCanio only attempted five passes, completing two, for 34 yards, but his 32-yard completion to Nelson was a key play in the game, setting up the Shamrock’s second touchdown.

The Shamrocks head to Niles to take on the Dons of Notre Dame next Friday night in an E.S.C.C. showdown. The stakes will be high in a rivalry that needs no hype, as one team is guaranteed to taste defeat for the first time. Both teams bring perfect 3-0 records into the game.