Bishop McNamara edges out Fenwick

Updated: September 17, 2011 10:37PM

Channing Dolliger threw for one touchdown and returned an interception on defense for another score as Bishop McNamara defeated Fenwick 21-13 Saturday night in an emotionally charged Catholic League White contest.

Earlier in the week the Friars replaced head coach Joe DiCanio with athletic director Scott Thies.

“Rough week,” Fenwick quarterback Pat Hart said after the game.

Down 14-7 late in the fourth quarter, Fenwick came within a point of tying the game on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Hart to John O’Malley with 1:50 left. The Friars attempted to tie the game with an extra point, but a Fightin’ Irish defender blocked the kick.

Fenwick (1-3, 0-1) recovered the ensuing onside kick, but Bishop McNamara was awarded the ball because it did not travel the necessary 10 yards. With no timeouts and the Fightin’ Irish with possession at the Fenwick 20-yard line, the Friars elected to let Travis Grant run untouched into the end zone. The play backfired on Fenwick when they fumbled away the ensuing kickoff.

“We shot ourselves in the foot,” Hart said.

The Friars tied the game 7-7 in the fourth quarter on a 10-yard run by Jack Stibich. Fenwick had not scored a point since a 34-12 Week 1 victory against Hales, getting shut out by Marmion and St. Rita since then.

Both teams struggled on offense in a scoreless first half. Fenwick had 30 yards of offense and Bishop McNamara had 65.

The Fightin’ Irish (3-1, 1-0) went ahead 7-0 with 8:36 left in the third quarter on a 44-yard TD pass from Dolliger to Ryan Lambert. Dolliger’s 45-yard interception return for a score came with 5:45 left in the game.

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