Benet defense wears down in defeat

Updated: September 3, 2011 1:11AM

No amount of off-season conditioning could prepare Benet’s defense for what it went through Friday night.

With high humidity and the mercury hovering around 90 degrees the Redwings defense found itself with its backs against the wall time and time again in their 27-7 loss to Marian Catholic and for three quarters they held strong. However, football is a four-quarter game and in the fourth the wheels fell off the wagon.

The Spartans (2-0) outgained the Redwings 336-4 on the ground and 448-210 for the game where the time of possession was dominated by Marian. Despite holding a 206-112 passing yard advantage Benet (0-2) only completed 9-of-25 passes leading to numerous three and outs consistently putting a tired defense on the field.

“The running game just wasn’t working for us tonight so we had to go to the pass and there we found some success. We just didn’t get enough of it though,” Redwings coach Pat New said. “I told my defense that I was extremely proud of them and that they kept on fighting. On a night like this they still kept a positive attitude and gave me maximum effort.”

One of the main reasons for the Benet fatigue was the play of Spartans running back Jeruel Taylor. Taylor carried the ball 25 times for 197 yards and scored two touchdowns in the game. The 5-foot-11 running back was the key in the first half as he touched the ball 18 times.

“I have a lot of trust in my offensive line and when I saw that (Benet’s) defense get tired I knew we could get them,” Taylor said. “The game didn’t go our way early but we kept fighting and eventually we came through.”

Marian forced four turnovers in the game — three interceptions and one fumble recovery — and that set up the Spartans’ first score as Byron Munoz intercepted a screen pass and took it to the Benet 10-yard line. On the first play off the turnover, Marian quarterback Robert Cifelli scored on a 10-yard keeper.

The Redwings answered on their next possession as Kevin Weller hooked up with Bobby Hayes for an 85-yard touchdown pass. Hayes ran a go route and beat a defender who slipped to the ball. He then outran the Spartans defense for the score.

A Taylor 23-yard touchdown run made it 13-7 but Benet had a shot to take the lead with 7:21 remaining in the third quarter as it had fourth-and-goal from just outside the one-inch line. However, Mike Odom was stopped at the line and the Redwings turned the ball over on downs.

Marian also got a touchdown catch from Randall Wells and Bradley Engstrand added a safety.

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