Burroughs Defeats Notre Dame Despite Four Interceptions

If his statistics told the entire story, Jeff Barrett’s would be a sad one.

Not often does the highly acclaimed quarterback from Burroughs High pass for only 125 yards in a game. Even less often does he throw four interceptions.

Barrett did both Friday night at Notre Dame, but Burroughs managed to overcome his off night. Notre Dame failed to capitalize on Barrett’s miscues and Burroughs won, 27-21.

“Four interceptions,” Burroughs Coach Butch McElwee said, shaking his head, “He doesn’t usually do that. But they were covering the inside on us really well. Jeff kind of pushed it inside.”

Said Barrett: “It was my worst game ever. But at least it was a nonleague game.”

Burroughs (2-0) also benefited from its depth at quarterback. Barrett was shaken up in the fourth quarter and had to come out of the game for eight plays.

With Burroughs facing a second-and-10 at the Notre Dame 40, reserve quarterback Marco Arcipreste pitched to tailback Doug Dragomer, who cut back against the grain and ran for a touchdown and a 27-14 lead with 8:38 left in the game.

“That was an audible,” McElwee said. “That just shows how well we practice. A second-string quarterback sees the blitz and calls another play and it goes.”

Dragomer’s run turned out to be the game-winner. With 16 seconds to play, Notre Dame quarterback Morgan Shepherd passed 33 yards for a touchdown to Pat Wilkison to complete the scoring.

“We hoped to lay back and get the interceptions, which we did,”

Notre Dame Coach Kevin Rooney said. “But we lost because we didn’t stop the run.”

Dragomer gained 98 yards on 10 carries and fullback Wes Bender gained 57 yards on 9 carries.

Notre Dame took the opening kickoff and marched 68 yards in 11 plays to take a 7-0 lead. Jere Deranja dove one yard for the touchdown.

Barrett’s first pass resulted in the Indians’ first score. Tight end Jason Teitel caught a sideline pass and raced 62 yards for a touchdown. But Tommy Phillips missed the extra-point attempt and the Indians trailed, 7-6.

Shepherd set up Notre Dame’s next score on a second-and-eight situation on Burroughs’ 43. Robert Harper caught a 36-yard pass from Shepherd to put the ball on the 7-yard line. Two plays later, Shepherd scored on a sneak to give Notre Dame a 14-6 lead.

Notre Dame was driving late in the first half when Deranja fumbled a pitchout at the Indians’ 22. Burroughs linebacker Fernando Gaona scooped up the loose ball on the 34 and ran 66 yards for a touchdown.

Barrett passed to Kevin Strasser for a two-point conversion to tie the score at halftime, 14-14.

Burroughs took its first lead four plays into the second half. After gaining 18 yards on two carries, Dragomer caught a screen pass from Barrett and ran 27 yards for a touchdown and a 21-14 lead.

Notre Dame (1-1) threatened to score on its next possession, but the drive came up empty on a fake field-goal attempt. Shepherd rolled out and appeared to have the Burroughs defense fooled, but his pass to Deranja was caught beyond the end line on fourth down.