Notre Dame Posts 1st Win, 34-20

It almost happened again.

After turning what could--or should--have been a 2-0 start this season into an 0-1-1 stagger out of the gates, Notre Dame High was looking directly at the possibility of another come-from-ahead defeat.

On Friday night, however, the Knights were aided by a disastrous miscue in the St. Francis backfield and went on to a 34-20 nonleague win.

Visiting St. Francis, having sheared a 27-6 halftime deficit to 27-20, had the ball at its 36 with about five minutes left.

However, on a fourth-and-five play, quarterback Rudy Martinez collided with running back Bill Young, and his ensuing scramble resulted in a 24-yard sack and Notre Dame ball at the St. Francis 12.

Jabbar Craigwell scored three plays later on a seven-yard run to give the Knights security. Craigwell gained 83 yards in 14 carries.

“We were getting a bit boring, so we decided to make things a little interesting,” Notre Dame Coach Kevin Rooney said.

Probably a tad too interesting for Notre Dame fans, who watched the Knights squander scoring opportunities in a 24-22 loss to Lynwood and a 14-14 tie with Canyon in their first two games.

“I knew it wasn’t going to happen a third time,” said Notre Dame receiver Scott Nunez, who caught a pair of touchdown passes from quarterback Darren Firestone. Firestone completed 11 of 23 for 151 yards.

Perhaps not, but St. Francis, which rallied to defeat St. Bernard and Burroughs, did anything but give in.

Behind the passing of Martinez, St. Francis (2-1) scored 14 quick points in the second half to get back into the game.

Martinez, who completed 10 of 23 for 228 yards, connected with Armando Mesa for touchdowns of 33 and 35 yards. Martinez earlier hooked up with Drew McGoldrick on a 46-yard play.

Notre Dame, however, had put it just far enough out of reach in the first half.

The Knights broke open a 7-6 contest with 20 second-quarter points to take a 27-6 halftime lead.

The back-breaker came with 5:05 left in the second quarter and Notre Dame ahead, 14-6.

Craigwell, a reserve quarterback playing running back, took a pitch from Firestone and launched a 52-yard scoring pass to a wide-open Greg Winter.

Firestone added his second scoring pass to Nunez moments later, and Notre Dame was well on its way to its first win of the season.

Firestone, who opened the scoring with a two-yard bootleg in the first quarter, completed eight of 16 passes for 146 yards in the first half.