Clear Cut Number One in WCAC
By Adam Chasen:
Washington, D.C. - Nobody expected 1st place in the WCAC Conference to be up for grabs in mid-October between the Gonzaga Eagles and Carroll Lions football teams, but that is exactly what was at stake Saturday afternoon. It was Gonzaga, who entered the contest in sole possession of 1st place, who put a beat down on Carroll, knocking the Lions out of a 2nd place tie 42-22.
Gonzaga hosting the battle on their homecoming weekend, figured to be tested, especially when they would have to play without the services of the team's leading rusher, D'Lante Martino. Carroll had been the talk of the conference, jumping out to an undefeated record before falling to Paul VI on week ago. But with all of the Lions young talent, which is considerable, they were no match for the experienced and dynamic Eagles squad led by quarterback Kevin Hogan and a veteran group of offensive lineman.
It was the Kevin Hogan show from the beginning, after a slow start from both sides, the star Stanford commit, broke off a 70-yard run all the way into the end zone to put his team in the lead 7-0. Gonzaga would never relinquish the lead again; as the Eagles defense stymied Carroll quarterback Jarid Brown, and his plethora of skill position players at his disposal.
Hogan added three passing touchdowns to go along with his long rushing score all in the first half of play. Junior running back, Duane McKelvin, who started in place of the injured Martino, also found his way into the end zone in the first half of play to put Gonzaga in the lead 35-0.
McKelvin is a bit more of a speed back then Martino, who has increased his size and strength considerably this past off-season, and it seemed to take a little while for the Eagles offense to get into rhythm. Once the offensive line and McKelvin got on to the same page, the Eagles rolled the rest of the way.
Carroll found a way to score just before the end of the first half with a 21-yard connection through the air from Brown to tight-end E.J. Norris. The two found some success working together in the latter stages of the half and into the second, but it was way too late. The halftime score was 35-6 in favor of the home side and it didn't get much better from there.
Carroll never gave up and fought until the bitter end, but Gonzaga was able to build a 42-6 lead in the middle of the 3rd quarter and never looked back. Jarid Brown would add two more passing touchdowns, the first to Duane Thompson, and the other to Norris for the tight ends second of the day.
When all the dust had settled Carroll had made a respectable effort to comeback, but much of the success came against Gonzaga's second team. The final score was 42-22 and Gonzaga remains in sole possession of 1st place with a huge contest in two weeks against 2nd place Good Counsel. Carroll meanwhile falls behind both Dematha and Good Counsel in the standings and will need to finish strongly to make the WCAC playoff that has only a four-team field.
