Robuck Lifts Alemany Past Notre Dame, 17-7

As far as great escapes go, Notre Dame High’s exodus from the Del Rey League could rival anything Houdini ever pulled off.

The Knights, who this year made the leap backward from Division I football to Division VII, leaving the Del Rey for the San Fernando Valley League, dug a hole for themselves against Alemany and were never able to climb out Friday night, losing their opener, 17-7, to their former league rivals.

In what will be their only game against a Del Rey foe all season, Notre Dame was held to five first downs and 68 yards until late in the fourth quarter, when the Knights launched their only scoring drive.

“The loss doesn’t change my mind one way or the other about leaving the Del Rey,” Notre Dame Coach Kevin Rooney said. “I was happy with the way we battled back. If we’d done that earlier, it might have been different.”

After a scoreless first half, Alemany marched 80 yards on its first possession of the third period to score the game’s first touchdown.

Tyler Robuck (35 carries, 156 yards) rushed six times on the 12-play drive before quarterback Joey Rosselli scored from the one. Andy Cicoria’s kick put the Indians ahead, 7-0, with 3:07 left in the quarter.

Alemany stopped the floundering Knights two more times, then drove to a second touchdown in the fourth period.

The big play on the 58-yard march was Rosselli’s 34-yard completion to Robuck, who followed his blockers and zigzagged to the Notre Dame six.

Two plays later, Rosselli connected with tight end Matt Delavigne on a four-yard touchdown play. Cicoria’s kick, with 5:52 to play, put the Indians ahead, 14-0.

Notre Dame finally got into gear as quarterback Bobby Hughes completed three consecutive passes to advance the Knights to the Alemany 17. Two plays later Jeremy Harrison scored on a 17-yard draw. Chris Afarian’s kick cut the Indian lead in half with 4:02 left.

An ensuing onside kick was recovered by Alemany, and the Indians, behind Robuck and Mark Dannemiller (11 carries, 38 yards), drove to the Notre Dame 13 where Cicoria kicked a 29-yard field goal to boost the lead to 17-7 with nine seconds to play.

Robuck, who played under first-year Alemany Coach Pat Blackburn last year at Montclair Prep, said he “expected to carry the ball 35 times.”

But he wasn’t complaining.

“The offensive line opened the biggest holes I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said.

Alemany had 314 total yards and Notre Dame had 191.