St. Bonaventure Goes Under in Overtime, 30-24

For four quarters, St. Bonaventure High was able to overcome the lack of a running game. But when overtime came, the Seraphs’ weakness was exploited.

Davion Doby of St. Monica scored on a 10-yard run in the first overtime to give the Mariners a 30-24 victory over the Seraphs on Saturday night in a Southern Section Division XI quarterfinal game at St. Bernard High.

St. Bonaventure (8-4) had the ball first in overtime, but on the second play Chris Lombardo fumbled while being sacked by Michael Murray, and Steve Hearn recovered for the Mariners (8-3-1).

Doby carried the ball on all five plays on St. Monica’s overtime possession, ending the game with his 10-yard run up the middle on second and four.

Doby ran for 166 yards and three touchdowns in 30 carries.

St. Monica tied the game on a 55-yard touchdown pass play from Chris Griffin to Steve Yarber-Williams with 3:24 left in regulation.

Without leading rusher Jesse Kirk, who didn’t play because of a sprained ankle suffered last week in St. Bonaventure’s first-round victory over Santa Ana Calvary Chapel, the Seraphs had minus-11 yards in 22 carries.

Lombardo completed 17 of 23 passes for 172 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, but was sacked nine times.

“Without our top rusher, we were hurting,” Coach Jon Mack of St. Bonaventure said. “Chris is a heck of a quarterback, but St. Monica had a tremendous pass rush.”

St. Bonaventure trailed, 14-7, at halftime but took a 24-14 lead with the help of four third-quarter turnovers--three fumbles and an interception--by St. Monica.

After recovering Doby’s fumble, the Seraphs drove 65 yards on five plays, Lombardo capping the drive with a 16-yard pass to Adam Gray-Hayward to give St. Bonaventure an 18-12 lead.

On the first play from scrimmage following the kickoff, lineman Nathan Oseguera intercepted Griffin’s pass and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown to give St. Bonaventure a 24-14 lead late in the third quarter.

Steve Hubbell kicked a 26-yard field goal with 9:26 left in regulation to cut the Seraphs’ lead to 24-17.