DeMatha head coach Bill McGregor collected his 300th win as the Stags routed Bishop McNamara 56-6 Friday for their homecoming game. The Stags capitalized to score 14 points off special teams mishaps by McNamara.
The win is DeMatha’s six straight, improving to a 6-1 overall record and 2-0 in the WCAC.
After a quick three-and-out by its defense, DeMatha’s offense wasted no time to get on the scoreboard. Sophomore quarterback Denzel Gardner connected with senior wide receiver Gerald Campbell for a 31-yard touchdown.
Later in the first quarter, senior running back Brendon Wyatt extended the Stags’ lead with a great cut to bounce outside for a touchdown run. DeMatha led 14-0 early.
Ohio State commit and DeMatha defensive end Jason Moore made an impressive tackle on third down. McNamara shanked its third punt to set up good field position for DeMatha at the Mustangs’ 44-yard line.
On the first play of the possession, junior fullback Kareem Robinson made a huge block that made junior running back Tovani Mizell a lane for a 15-yard gain. Later in the drive, Gardner handled a high snap to score a six-yard touchdown on a draw. DeMatha took a commanding 21-0 lead to end the first quarter.
The Stags had their first mishap in the second quarter. Wyatt broke loose a 40-yard gain. It appeared the Stags appeared headed to another touchdown. However, a handoff by Gardner to Wyatt went awry, resulting in a fumble. McNamara junior linebacker Jayden Hayman scooped the loose football and took it to the house for a Mustangs’ touchdown.
The score cut DeMatha’s lead to 21-6. McNamara had some life. But that quickly vanished, as DeMatha senior wide receiver Dante Lovett answered with a 90-yard touchdown return on the ensuing kickoff.
With the game slipping away, disaster struck McNamara’s special teams. The Mustangs punter punted the ball into his own teammate’s backside. DeMatha senior safety Robert Stevens III recovered the loose ball and returned it into the end zone to extend the Stags’ lead to 35-6.
The Stags commenter Eric Myer jokingly said, “Did we just see what we think we saw? Was this a replay of the Miami Dolphins game?”
Myers referenced the infamous “Butt punt” by Dolphins punter Thomas Morestead earlier this season.
DeMatha continued their dominance in the third quarter’s opening drive. The Stags rode the back of sophomore running back Bud Coombs down to the one-yard line. Yet, the drive stalled with a turnover on downs, highlighted by a bad snap that pushed the Stags back 25 yards.
But the Stags’ defense made sure to end any Mustangs’ thoughts of a comeback with a pair of pick-sixes. First, DeMatha sophomore cornerback Jacob Wallace jumped a pass and returned the interception for a score. Then senior wide receiver/cornerback Kristian Tate intercepted the quarterback’s throw rolling out the pocket, returning it to the house to give the Stags a 49-6 lead.
Coombs got his elusive touchdown in the fourth quarter on an impressive 48-yard touchdown with a pair of cuts on his path to the end zone.
DeMatha school president Father James presented Coach McGregor with a game ball for win No. 300.
