Notre Dame Moves On With Right Combination

Top-seeded Notre Dame High parlayed a stingy defense and the pass-catch combination of Phil Beckmann and Michael Luderer into a 31-8 victory over Lancaster in the first round of the Southern Section Division III playoffs Friday night at Notre Dame.

Beckmann completed touchdown passes of 70 and 12 yards in the third quarter to Luderer, breaking open a close game and giving the Knights (10-0-1) a 24-0 lead.

Luderer finished with seven catches for 148 yards, and Beckmann completed 12 of 15 passes for 215 yards.

Notre Dame struggled offensively in the first half, committing several penalties. During one drive, the Knights had four penalties for 60 yards.

The Knights took a 10-0 lead at halftime behind a 28-yard field by Ryan Allen and a one-yard touchdown run by Tom Curiel.

Notre Dame, which will play at Peninsula in the quarterfinals next week, scored on its first play from scrimmage in the third quarter on Beckmann’s 70-yard pass to Luderer.

Curiel added another one-yard scoring run with 5:20 to play.

Lancaster (5-6) scored on a 21-yard run by Josh Pratt, capping a 10-play, 80-yard drive in the third quarter. Tony Ortiz had 99 yards in 17 carries for the Eagles.

Notre Dame out-gained Lancaster, 323 yards to 160.