| AWAY | HOME | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | VS | FAITH CHRISTIAN | |
| 55 | 13 | ||
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Paul II Catholic High School | 28 | 19 | 8 | 0 |
| Faith Christian | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
The John Paul II Catholic High School football team firmly asserted its control early on Thursday evening and cruised to a 55-13 victory over host Faith Christian in Rocky Mount.
The Saints, who scored touchdowns on their first seven possessions and added one on defense during that time as well, improved to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in the Big 8 heading into homecoming next Friday, Oct. 14, against non-conference Bear Grass in an 11-man game. The Patriots dropped to 4-3 and 0-3.
“We got off to a fast start from the get-go,” JPII coach Sean Murphy said. “Our guys were focused all week and we talked about coming out fast.
“I’m very proud of our guys. This was a total team effort.”
In the first half alone, Rion Roseborough rushed just seven times for 141 yards and four touchdowns, including a 53-yarder on JPII’s first play from scrimmage after the Saints stuffed the Patriots for a three-and-out on Faith Christian’s first possession.
Roseborough’s talent wasn’t even needed in the second half. The Saints led 47-13 at halftime and received the second-half kickoff. Faith tried an onside kick, which JPII recovered. After a short run by Keiveon Moore, Xae Lang ripped off a 38-yard gain to the Faith 11, and from there Moore took it in with 10:35 left in the third to make it 53-13. Quarterback Brody Mitchell’s conversion run made it a 42-point lead, which forced a running clock the rest of the way and ended all the scoring for the game.
The quick early onslaught continued after Roseborough’s first touchdown. The Patriots went for it on fourth-and-7 from their own 39, but Thomas Sugg’s pass was incomplete. On second down Moore ran it to the 18, and then Lang took it in from there. Will Wright’s second PAT made it 14-0 with 4:44 left in the first.
Faith then drove into JPII territory before its drive ended at the 34. Roseborough gained 41 yards on the first play, followed by a 17-yard run by Moore to the Faith 7. From there, Roseborough took it in, and Wright’s PAT made it 21-0 with 1:17 left in the first.
The Patriots quickly retaliated as Sugg hooked up with Michael Grant for a 46-yard touchdown to make it 21-6 late in the first quarter. But JPII then recovered the onside kick, and its offense utilized preternatural (Mr. Corley’s junior students should know that word) speed to score again. Moore ran 44 yards to the Faith 6 on first down, and Roseborough scored on the next play. After Wright’s PAT it was 28-6 JPII with 7 seconds left in the first.
On Faith’s ensuing possession, the Patriots went for it on fourth-and-1 from their own 36. Tucker Holmes, who has been an absolute force on the JPII defense all season long, again made his presence known as he forced a fumble and also recovered it. Three plays later, Wyatt Stamatis scored on an 11-yard run, and Wright’s fifth PAT made it 35-6 with 10:42 left in the first half.
The Patriots then scored their second touchdown, but JPII closed the first half with two more scores — on a 20-yard run by Roseborough and a 35-yard interception return by sophomore Ryker Butcher — to account for the 34-point halftime margin.
Quinn McCaffrey also had an interception for a defense which pressured the Faith quarterback all night. Sugg never was sacked, but he was hurried constantly by Holmes, Max Winkler, Nick Garza and a host of other JPII players.
Please come out to support the Saints in the coming week, which also is Spirit Week on the JPII campus. Check the school websites (jp2highschool.com, jp2sports.com) for athletics schedules. The student-athletes truly appreciate your support. Go Saints!
JPII 28 19 8 0 — 55
FC 6 7 0 0 — 13
JP—Rion Roseborough 53 run (Will Wright kick)
JP—Xae Lang 18 run (Wright kick)
JP—Roseborough 7 run (Wright kick)
FC—Michael Grant 46 pass from Thomas Sugg (pass failed)
JP—Roseborough 6 run (Wright kick)
JP—Wyatt Stamatis 11 run (Wright kick)
FC—Sugg 2 run (Sugg kick)
JP—Roseborough 20 run (kick failed)
JP —Ryker Butcher 35 interception return (kick failed)
JP—Keiveon Moore 11 run (Brody Mitchell run)
