On a day where DeMatha only threw one pass and Bishop McNamara anticipated the run the majority of the game, the Stags were able to carry the ball for nearly 300 yards in a 22-0 victory Saturday afternoon in Forestville. Ashby Christian led the way for DeMatha, rushing the ball 25 times for 224 yards and one touchdown. Fullback Ryan Clarke and quarterback Sean McKenna, starting in place of injured starter Tommy Chroniger, also scored while the Stags defense posted their second straight shutout, including their third in four games.

“I was very, very proud of our defense,” DeMatha Coach Bill McGregor said. “I thought they did a great job the entire day and really stepped up. Our offensive line did a very fine job as well. [McNamara] had their safeties down low, they were playing man with nine or ten guys in the box and we were able to run the football. Ashby had 224 yards on the ground, which is a real tribute to the offensive line. They did their work.”

McNamara was able to hold DeMatha to a 37-yard field goal by Michael Branthover for the game’s first 22 minutes. But with the half coming to a close, the Stags assembled a 99-yard drive that ended with Ashby Christian rushing the ball towards the end zone in what looked to be a 2-yard touchdown run. Christian, however, fumbled the ball but fellow senior Ryan Clarke was able to recover it in the end zone to extend the lead to 9-0. Although it wasn’t textbook DeMatha football, the Stags were able to win their eighth straight game.

“We’ve been winning a little bit left-handed,” McGregor said. “Our starting quarterback hasn’t played now for three weeks. Tommy [Chroniger] just got clearance to come back on Tuesday. He could have played, but we decided to hold him for one more week and we’re just glad that he’s going to be healthy.”

With DeMatha’s running game controlling the time of possession, the Stags’ defense was able to stay fresh and it showed every time McNamara’s offense took the field. The Mustangs had less than 50 yards on offense in the first half and struggled to move the ball until Kevin Clark hit Maryland commit Cameron Chism on a 55-yard pass to set up a first and goal situation late in the fourth quarter. Although DeMatha’s defense had their backs against the wall, the Mustangs were not able to find the end zone.

“I think today was a team effort by everybody,” DeMatha defensive end Joe Collura said. “Our offensive line was working hard and our running backs were running hard. On the defensive side of the ball we had that goal line stand there at the end. It was gut check time.”

The schedule doesn’t get any easier for DeMatha as they host Good Counsel next weekend. The Falcons (8-1, 5-1) beat Paul VI 42-0 Thursday night to improve to 8-1 on the season and 5-1 in conference play. According to Ashby Christian, however, experience lies in favor of the Stags.

“Nobody really worries me on Good Counsel,” Christian said. “I played against a lot of those guys my freshman year so I basically know their entire team. I’m just looking to have fun against them.”

Game Notes: McNamara Head Coach Bryce Bevill used to be a part of McGregor’s staff at DeMatha before taking over at McNamara. McGregor had the following to say about what Bevill has accomplished.

“Coach Bevill did a great job when he was here at DeMatha. You know that any time you play Bishop McNamara the players are going to be very well prepared, it’s going to be a tough football game and they are going to execute on both offense and defense. He does a great job with this program.”

Coach McGregor also noted that Ashby Christian’s performance reminded him many of his past teams.

“Today was old-fashioned DeMatha football. This is how we used to do it in the old days, and I’m very proud of Ashby’s effort.”

Christian said that his running style is often compared to former DeMatha running back Patrick Mealy, who is currently the leading rusher for Army as a red shirt freshman.

“Pat is a great running back and I’m just trying to mirror him.”

Game Stats:
Rushing Leaders: D-Christian 25-224, Clarke 6-37, Reed 8-59. BM-Webster 7-52, T Lubrano 7-22, McNeil 3-4.
Passing Leaders: BM-Webster 4-9-0 32, Clark 1-1-0 65.
Receiving Leaders: BM-Chism 3-81, Cooke 2-16.

Photographs by Josh Johnson.

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