Cathedral’s Cowins Takes Care of Business

R.T. Cowins rushed for 169 yards and three touchdowns and also intercepted two passes for Los Angeles Cathedral as the Phantoms knocked off previously unbeaten Los Angeles Verbum Dei, 40-21, in a Camino Real League opener Saturday at Cathedral.

He opened the scoring with a 35-yard run to cap a 69-yard drive on the Phantoms’ first possession. He zig-zagged 69 yards down the right side to give Cathedral a 33-14 advantage with 5:36 to play, and closed the scoring with a 44-yard run on the Phantoms’ last possession with 2:05 to play against a defense that had only given up eight points.

“It was a good game,” said Cowins. “I played better than I thought I would, actually.”

That was because Cowins, a senior who is drawing interest primarily from Colorado State so far, has struggled with nagging injuries, including a twisted left ankle and sprained right thumb.

The game was stopped for more than 30 minutes after Verbum Dei flanker Chris Clark was knocked unconscious while making a block.

Clark was conscious and had voluntary control of his limbs by the time he was taken to L.A. County-USC Medical Center, where he underwent tests, which proved negative. He was released Saturday night. Cathedral (5-2), which has won the past two Camino Real League titles and won three consecutive Santa Fe League titles before that, also lost two players to second-half injuries. Offensive guard Alessandro Capra suffered a sprained right ankle, and running back Jabari Jefferson (134 yards in 19 carries) suffered an apparent “stinger.”

Verbum Dei (6-1) got within 20-14 after Clark stripped Cathedral’s Ryan Kelley of the ball and returned it 23 yards for a score with 1:57 to go in the third quarter.

Cathedral answered on its next possession, with Ryan Kelley scoring on a 12-yard run to extend the Phantoms’ lead to 26-14. Verbum Dei got no closer, despite an interception made by Clark with nine minutes to play.