Eagles down Blue Jays, 9-0

Even with the 9-0 shutout loss to Vermilion Catholic in the seventh annual Joe Nagata Memorial jamboree first year St. Edmund head coach James Shiver still saw plenty of positive things to build on heading into the season opener against Vinton.
“That was against the second-ranked team in the state,” Shiver said of the battle against VC. “And we hung right in there with them.
“We didn’t execute like we wanted to but their defense had a lot to do with that.
“Our guys battled and we are going to better,” Shiver said. “With four minutes left in the game we were right there with them until that turnover.”
“The Blue Jays were unable to convert on fourth down on their first possession and then lost a fumbled snap on their next possession.
Vermilion Catholic then drove 53 yards in five plays to score the game’s only touchdown.
Drew Lege connected with Joshua Suire for a 21-yard scoring strike.
The PAT failed, but VC led 6-0 with 1:27 left in the first half.
The Blue Jay offense was held to a three-and-out to begin the second half, but the St. Ed defense stood tall and forced VC to punt.
The Blue Jays mounted its best drive of the game as St. Ed’s moved the ball on the ground and benefited from a VC insportmanslike penalty.
Blue Jay quarterback Clay Miller scampered 15 yards for another St. Ed’s first down, but three plays later VC’s Blair Turner grabbed an interception to stop the SEH drive.
The Eagles then used up the last three minutes of the game with a nine-play, 57 yard drive.
Lege was successful on three different passes as VC moved deep into Blue Jay territory.
Lege completed 9-of-16 passes for 113 yards in the game.
Saul Dartez was his main target, hauling in five catches for 84 yards.
The drive stalled but on fourth down, Rob Allums hit a 26-yard field goal to push the Eagles’ lead to 9-0 with 25 seconds left in the contest.
Miller led the Jays with 37 yards on five carries and completed 1-of-5 passes for 14 yards and an interception.
Easton Coleman had the only catch for the Blue Jays.