Dillon hopes to defend its interhall title
By PAT LEONARD
Sports Writer
The defending interhall football champions unveiled a passing attack to help pull out a close victory in their hunt for a repeat title.
The sixth-seeded Dillon Big Red defeated third-seeded Stanford, 7-6, at Riehle fields on Sunday afternoon. While the seeds indicate an upset, Dillon had the edge with a win over Stanford in week two of the regular season, running for 180 yards in a 20-8 victory. Stanford cut the Big Red's rushing production almost in half to 97 yards on Sunday. Still, Dillon scored first and made a huge defensive stand on a late two-point conversion to secure a spot in the semifinals next Sunday.
"I'm glad we pulled it through this week," said safety Michael Johnson, who had two interceptions on the day for the Big Red. "It was a team effort today for sure."
Dillon's offense gained 123 net yards, 97 on the ground and 64 in the air. All 64 passing yards came on Dillon's first drive, an eight-play, 65-yard drive capped by a 38-yard touchdown pass to Ben Butwin on fourth and 12.
"It all starts with the line and running the ball," said quarterback Mark Zepf, who had his best passing output of the season. "When we run the ball well, that opens up the passing game."
Stanford was well aware of the Dillon offensive game plan, the same one that hammered them into the ground earlier in the season.
"Our defense was planning on stopping the running game," said captain Adam Oyster. "I think the defensive line and linebackers did a great job. There was just one play here and one play there that didn't go our way, and we lost the game."
The `one play here' was the Butwin touchdown reception. At first a seemingly futile fourth down attempt, quarterback Mark Zepf's dart across the middle to a leaping Butwin turned into the Big Red's only offensive output of the day. But it was enough.
Stanford failed a two-point conversion attempt with 1 minute, 30 seconds remaining.
"With it being the playoffs and everything, you want to try to win the game there," said Oyster.
The Dillon defense created turnovers as well. Johnson's two interceptions halted Stanford drives during both the first and second half.
"Anyone is happy when they can help the team out like that," said Johnson.
Stanford's offense managed only 35 yards rushing and 57 yards passing, 47 of which came on their last drive, one that consumed the majority of the fourth quarter and culminated in a seven-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Rich Whitney.
"We were planning on starting the game off hardnosed," said Whitney. "We wanted to run it until we saw what they were doing. But we were an inch off of anything. We didn't execute the way we liked."
Walking past the Sorin/Alumni game on his way back to the dorm, Dillon quarterback Zepf revealed his preference of opponent. "I want to play Alumni," he said. "They're our only loss this season, and we wouldn't want to get to the championship any other way than through them."
Zepf will get his chance next Sunday.
Siegfried 10, Morrissey 7
Before the play, eight-seed Morrissey had undefeated Siegfried right where they wanted them. Before the play, the high-octane, point-producing Siegfried offense had not gained a first down.
All it took, however, was one turn of Ramblers quarterback Bill Bingle's arm. Morrissey's defense made only one mistake the whole game, but that was all the room Siegfried needed. The Ramblers advanced to the interhall football semifinals with a 10-7 victory at Riehle fields Sunday afternoon.
"I am very happy about the result because we made it to another week and because it's one more step towards our goal," said Siegfried coach John Torgenson. "I'm a little disappointed with the turnovers, but Morrissey is a very good team. They are not an eight seed. I felt they were one of the best teams coming into the playoffs."
The Manorite offense was running the ball better than it had all year on Sunday. Running back Nick Klein had 67 of his team's 101 rushing yards.
"We wanted to try to run on them because it was not something we were able to do with consistency [during the regular season]," said Klein. "We were happy with our running game, but we couldn't put it in the end zone when we had to."
Morrissey gained 33 yards in the air. Quarterback Rick Ysasi, however, primarily kept it on the ground, gaining 21 yards and scoring on a one-yard touchdown run. The touchdown put Morrissey up at halftime, 7-3.
"It's frustrating to lose that way," said coach John Caver. "I feel we did dominate on both offense and defense."
The Morrissey offense, defense and special teams all did their part in a valiant effort by the Manorites. Morrissey blocked a punt to set up their only touchdown and intercepted Bingle twice.
"It came down to one bad play," said Caver. "The defense can't let up and give them a big play like that."
That bad play came on the first play of a fourth quarter Siegfried drive. Bill Bingle found wide receiver John Karp wide open behind the secondary, and Karp outran two pursuing Morrissey defensive backs for a game-winning, 95-yard touchdown.
"I was running and I was at the 20 and I thought to myself, `Why aren't you going anywhere?" Karp said.
Bingle and the Siegfried offense managed less than 10 yards outside of the big play.
Bingle's two interceptions ended drives abruptly and gave Morrissey good field position.
"I think we can do a better job holding on to the ball and capitalizing," said Torgenson. "Bill struggled a little today, but he doesn't worry me because he's an athlete. He knows a lot of it rests on his shoulders."
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, November 5, 2002
