Notre Dame’s Defense Continues to Stand Up

Three times running back Dion Battee challenged the Notre Dame High defensive line. Three times Battee was stacked up for no gain inches short of the end zone, the final attempt on fourth down.

Thus, Notre Dame’s second-quarter goal-line stand proved pivotal in the Knights’ 21-0 Mission League victory Friday night over St. Bernard at Notre Dame.

At the time, Notre Dame (6-1, 2-0) was clinging to a 7-0 lead, while St. Bernard (3-4, 0-2)--beginning the quarter with a 10-play, 79-yard drive--appeared to be gaining momentum like rolling stones.

Then came the first of four futile line plunges from inside the two-yard line, the first by tailback Jerome Heavens. After a Viking timeout, Battee’s final attempt came up short by what appeared to be only an inch.

Talk about getting no satisfaction.

“That was one real nice job by the defense,” Notre Dame Coach Kevin Rooney said. “It was great that we were able to suck it up and stop them. Defensively, we’ve been playing quite well.”

The shutout was the second for Notre Dame, which has yielded only 56 points. The Knights held St. Bernard to 127 yards.

Notre Dame totaled 277 yards, including 108 rushing in 11 carries by senior John Garcia.

Notre Dame did not allow St. Bernard to penetrate past the Knight 34 for the remainder of the game.

Junior quarterback Ryan Bowne capped a 77-yard drive to begin the second half with an eight-yard bootleg for a touchdown. Late in the third quarter, Notre Dame recovered a bad snap on a St. Bernard punt and had a first down at the Viking four. Two plays later, Garcia ran one yard for a touchdown.

The Knights moved the ball effectively in the first half but scored only on fullback Don Ebenhoch’s six-yard run, which capped a seven-play, 58-yard drive sustained by a 15-yard face-mask penalty.

Ebonhoch added 48 yards in seven carries, and Alvan Arzu rushed for 24 yards in six carries.