Late Field Goal Lifts Crespi Over Rival Notre Dame, 17-14

Once again, Notre Dame High has finished in the nice-try column but not in the win column.

The Knights dropped a 17-14 nonleague decision to archrival Crespi on Friday night at Pierce College despite a spirited second-half performance in which Notre Dame pushed around the Celts--except when the Knights really had to.

“I’m not unhappy with our effort,” Notre Dame Coach Kevin Rooney said. “But we need to make the key plays.”

Notre Dame led, 14-7, midway through the fourth quarter. But that’s when Crespi began making the plays and Notre Dame stopped making them.

Crespi quarterback Matt Walker, who completed 13 of 17 passes for 188 yards, connected on successive throws of 21 and 48 yards, setting up his eight-yard touchdown pass to Wayne Emerson with 6 minutes 44 seconds to play.

With the score tied, 14-14, and 6:01 to play, Crespi’s Mike Zele intercepted a pass from Kelly Moran, who was nine of 20 for 89 yards and threw two interceptions.

Crespi took over at Notre Dame’s 35. A few plays later, Bach Stabile kicked a 30-yard field goal to give Crespi a 17-14 lead with 2:42 to play.

Notre Dame (1-3) got the ball back and moved it to midfield, but Moran threw three straight incomplete passes before tossing a pass that was intercepted by Patrick Jeffries.

It was the second week in a row that Crespi (4-0) had rallied for a victory in the fourth quarter. The Celts scored late to beat Chaminade, 28-24, last week.

Crespi running back Torie Lee, who did not practice all week and played with a broken finger, led the Celts with 121 yards in 25 carries.

Trailing, 7-3, midway through the third quarter, Notre Dame turned up its emotion and dominated for a stretch.

A drive keyed by a 47-yard pass from tailback Jabbar Craigwell to Francisco Dongo ended with Chris Sailer kicking a 37-yard field goal that pulled the Knights within 7-6.

After forcing a punt, the Knights drove 53 yards, scoring on a 14-yard pass from Moran to Joey Orlando. A two-point conversion gave the Knights a 14-7 lead.