HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: WEEK 8 : St. Francis Is Latest Victim in Notre Dame’s Victory Tour, 42-10

Members of the Mission League won’t likely miss the Notre Dame High football team.

Notre Dame, scheduled to move to the Division I Del Rey League next season, resumed its take-no-prisoners march in its swan song season in the Mission League by routing St. Francis, 42-10, on Friday night at Notre Dame.

The Knights (8-0, 3-0 in league play), the defending Southern Section Division III champions, stumbled through an error-filled first quarter, but assumed a 20-3 halftime lead and retained control from there.

Senior quarterback Ryan Bowne completed 13 of 19 passes for 152 yards, including scoring passes of two and 11 yards. Senior tailback Alvan Arzu rushed for 114 yards in 11 carries, including a 53-yard touchdown run.

Fullback Justin Fargas rushed for 28 yards in six carries, including touchdown runs of one and eight yards.

The Knights’ defense sacked John Carnevali three times for 29 yards in losses.

Notre Dame has outscored three league opponents, 108-30.

“I’ll be glad when they go to Division I,” St. Francis Coach Bill Redell said. “They can play with anyone.”

Perhaps Notre Dame, which has officially opposed the move, deserves to step up.

“Well, if we could have this team every year,”Notre Dame Coach Kevin Rooney said.

“I think we’ve got some good football players, that’s what it comes down to. And they get excited about coming out here every Friday night.”

Said Bowne: “I think we’ve got a senior-oriented team with a lot of talented guys who have been around varsity football a long time, and the coaching has been consistent.”

Notre Dame took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on Fargas’ one-yard dive.

St. Francis (6-2, 1-2) fumbled on its first two possessions, and Notre Dame fumbled once deep in St. Francis territory. But Notre Dame finally broke through with a 53-yard drive, capped by Fargas’ run.

The big play on the drive was a 22-yard completion from Bowne to Nick Kounalis that gave Notre Dame a first down at the St. Francis 25.

Early in the second quarter, Arzu ran 53 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

Notre Dame sacked Carnevali twice on St. Francis’ next possession. After a punt, Notre Dame took over on the St. Francis 18. Bowne hit tight end Joe Aragno with an 18-yard touchdown pass, and Notre Dame led, 20-0.

St. Francis’ Chris Palic booted a 32-yard field goal as time expired in the half.

In the third quarter, Bowne lofted a two-yard touchdown pass to senior Troy Garner, and a two-point conversion pass to Kounalis gave the Knights a 28-3 lead.