FOOTBALL HIGHLIGHTS : St. Genevieve Slips, Slides by Bell-Jeff

St. Genevieve’s 15-0 victory over Bell-Jeff on Saturday night was not a football game in the real sense of the sport. Because the field was a mud pit, only a few passes were attempted as players slipped and slid around the Burroughs High field.

St. Genevieve lineman Tony Pennacchio and the rest of the Valiants delighted in it.

“All of us, since we were young, since we’ve known each other, love to play in the rain, play in the mud,” Pennacchio said. “We’re pigs.”

They are also dominating. St. Genevieve’s linemen helped the Valiants amass 159 yards in total offense--146 on the ground--while limiting Bell-Jeff to 59 total yards.

St. Genevieve recorded its fourth shutout of the season and improved its record to 5-3 overall, 4-1 in Santa Fe League play. Bell-Jeff was shut out for the second week in a row and dropped to 5-2-1, 2-2.

Alfonso Gutierrez kicked a 37-yard field goal midway through the first quarter to give St. Genevieve a 3-0 lead. The Valiants increased their lead to 9-0 in the second quarter when quarterback Frank Aguirre scored on a one-yard sneak.

The touchdown ended an impressive 12-play, 89-yard drive that featured the running of D. J. Vlaming (four carries for 26 yards) and Ruben Aguirre, who had three carries for 12 yards and a 13-yard reception that put the Valiants at the three-yard line.

In contrast, Bell-Jeff failed to muster any offense in the first half. The Guards had 38 yards--all rushing--and only three first downs. Bell-Jeff also fumbled twice, the first of which led to St. Genevieve’s field goal.

Chris Andrews, who had 69 yards on 18 carries, scored from one yard out near the end of the third quarter to complete the Valiants’ scoring. Vlaming led all rushers with 73 yards on 11 carries.