Defense Leads Lake Catholic's Football Team To Another Victory

There was moment Friday night when it seemed Lake Catholic's football game against Archbishop Hoban was getting away from the Cougars.

The Knights (0-6) had crawled back from a 27-7 hole at the end of the first half to 27-20 in the third quarter.

Then, the Cougars (3-3) fumbled and Hoban had all the momentum and a chance to tie the score or even take the lead for the first time that night.

The Knights drove down the field to Lake Catholic's 3-yard line; but then, as they had all night, the Cougars' defense stepped up.

Lake Catholic nabbed a fumble -- the first of two drive-ending fumbles the Cougars would grab in the second half to ensure they held onto their lead on a way to a 27-20 win.

The Cougars' defense also scored as many touchdowns as its offense Friday night.

Lake Catholic had already scored once -- on a 17-yard pass from quarterback Dylan Bell to tight end Malcolm Reho -- when the defense earned its first points.

Defensive end and Toledo recruit John Stepec flattened Hoban quarterback, Dominick Orsini, with a big hit in the Knights' end zone during the first quarter.

Orsini fumbled the ball and defensive lineman Kareem Haddix recovered for a touchdown.

Then, still in the first quarter, the Cougars defense added seven more when linebacker Scott Marjak intercepted Orsini and ran it back 23 yards for a touchdown.

Bell -- who started in lieu of the injured Mark Baniewicz who has a strained MCL -- tacked on one more touchdown with a 39-yard run to give Lake Catholic a 27-7 lead at half time.

Hoban's only score in the first half came on a 30-yard pass from Orsini to wide receiver Jake Tersigni.

However, Hoban came out hot in the second half. They scored quickly on a pair of touchdown passes from Orsini to Zach Leone -- from 16 and 17 yards, respectively.

But Hoban's momentum ceased with the aforementioned fumble recovery to end the third quarter.

The Lake Catholic defense held Hoban scoreless in the fourth, though the Knights had one last chance to tie or win when the Cougars punted them the ball on their 46 with four minutes left.

But Hoban never capitalized on their good field position as Lake Catholic once again ended their drive by snatching another Knights' fumble.