Valparaiso began its final road trip of the 2009 season on
Saturday afternoon, suffering a 24-0 setback to Marist in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Valpo’s defense led the way throughout
the first half keeping the game close. JaVon Welch (Grand Rapids, Mich./Ottawa
Hills H.S.) ripped a ball away from a Marist receiver for an interception in
the opening quarter and the Brown and Gold made four tackles for loss in the
opening 30 minutes.
Offensively the Crusaders
moved the ball in the first half, only to have two drives stopped inside of the
30-yard line, one because of a fumble and another on a blocked field goal.
“Early in the game our
defense kept us in the game,” head coach Stacy
Adams said. “Offensively though we
need to generate offense and come away with points when we have the
opportunity.”
Marist finally got on the
scoreboard with 33 seconds remaining before halftime as Chris Debowski found
Chris Ortner open in the end zone from five yards out to give the Red Foxes a
7-0 lead at the break.
Valpo outgained Marist 107-91
in the first half, holding the Red Foxes to just 29 yards passing and five
first downs.
“For 29 minutes we went
toe-to-toe with a good team both offensively and defensively,” Adams added. “We
had them outgained and our defensive kept giving us opportunities.”
The Red Foxes added to the
lead on the opening possession of the third quarter as O’Neil Anderson scored
from seven yards out to make it 14-0 Marist.
Just 1:45 later, following a Crusader interception, Debowski found James
LaMacchia from 48 yards out to make it 21-0.
Marist would add 28-yard field goal before the end of the third quarter
and that would close out the scoring for the game.
Valpo managed just 46 yards
of offense in the second half while Marist (5-3, 4-2 PFL) picked up 250 to
finish with 341 yards for the game.
“Coming into the game we felt
good about what we could do,” Adams
added. “We have to come out and play a
better second half though. If we play
the same way we did in the first half it is a different ball game.”
Debowski finished 6-of-9 passing for 114 yards and two
touchdowns for the Red Foxes while Anderson on 15 carries and a
score.
rushed for 101 yards
Bobby Wysocki
(Calumet City, Ill./Thornwood H.S.) was 10-of-25 passing
for 73 yards while Issac Wildermuth
(Sidney, Ohio/Upper Arlington H.S.) had 16 carries for 34 yards to lead the
ground game. Welch had a team-leading 12
tackles in addition to the interception to lead the defense.
Valparaiso (1-7, 0-5) will close out the road portion of the
regular season next Saturday in Jacksonville,
Fla. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m.
CST. against the Dolphins of
Jacksonville.
Game Notes: This
was the first meeting ever between Valpo and Marist … Welch’s interception was
the first of his career … Cody Gokan
(Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein H.S.) had a career-high 10
tackles.
