Tom Dodge
The St. Edmund offense rolled up 396 yards while the defense recorded a shut out Thursday night in the Blue Jays’ 47-0 win over Highland Baptist.
“We did a good job running the ball,” St. Edmund head coach James Shiver said. “We are moving in the right direction.
“We want to make the playoffs – that’s our goal – and every win is big.”
St. Edmund’s good fortunes came early as Williams Driggs recovered the game-opening squib kickoff at the Bears’ 36 yard line.
After two strong runs by Peyton Marcantel. Kieran Davis scored on a 4-yard run as the Blue Jay led 6-0 with 11:20 left in the period.
After six plays, Highland was forced to punt and the Jays offense quickly responded.
St. Ed’s went 46 yards in eight plays, capped by a 17-yard score by Davis.
Marcantel’s PAT gave the Jays a 13-0 advantage with 5:31 remaining in the first quarter.
After forcing the Bears to punt, three plays the Jays fumbled the ball back to Highland.
The Bears moved the ball into St. Ed territory before Davis sacked quarterback Myles Liggins and Tanner Cormier recovered the forced fumble.
St. Edmund covered 58 yards in just four plays. highlighted by an impressive run by Marcantel.
Clay Miller finished the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run. The PAT failed, but the Jays led 19-0 with 10:36 left in the half.
After forcing another punt, the Jays moved 70 yards in six plays, finished with a 6-yard scoring run by Miller.
Marcantel ran in the two-point conversion as St. Ed’s led 27-0 with 6:-00 remaining in the second quarter.
The Blue Jay defense forced another punt and on the next play, Marcantel broke through the middle of the Bears’ defense and raced 50 yards for the touchdown.
Marcantel’s PAT increased the Jays’ lead to 34-0 with 2:54 left in the half.
The defenses controlled the game early in the third period as the Jays were forced to punt and the Bears were stopped on fourth down near midfield.
St. Edmund went 51 yards on four plays as Miller ran the final 41 yards for the touchdown.
Marcantel’s PAT pushed the Jays ahead, 41-0 with 5:42 left in the third period.
After stopped Highland Baptist again on fourth down on the next drive, St. Ed’s then took six minutes off the clock and moved 65 yards on 10 plays.
Hunter Brown capped the drive with a 1-yard run as the Jays led 47-0 with 10:12 remaining in the game.
The St. Edmund defense held ther Bears to -6 yards rushing, but Highland Baptist quarterback Liggans completed 21-of-34 passes for 180 yards.
Marcantel had a strong performance as he gained 218 yards on 14 carries. He added 23 yards on three catches.
Miller completed 4-of-6 passes for 32 yards with no interceptions.