In a challenging two day start to the season, the Patriots (1-0) rolled to a 41-8 win over non-league foe Shepherd Hill (0-1). There was energy in the crowd on Friday night… but also some energy lurking in nearby storms. But the game opened up going CC’s way as the Pats defense held the Shepherd Hill to a 3 and out. The Patriots offense got to work right away with senior QB Ryan Fivek directing a 7 play scoring drive that included a 39 yard Fivek strike to junior WR Will Hoover. Two plays later, Fivek hit Hoover across the middle for CC’s first score of the year. Sophomore Sam Griswold’s kick made it 7-0 early in the 1st. The game continued to go the Pats way on the ensuing kickoff with senior Cal MacClary diving on a loose ball. The turnover had the Patriots in great field position when the game had to be postponed for the evening due to nearby lightning.
The game resumed with 5:52 left in the first at 10am on Saturday morning and, although there was no fear of lightning strikes, the Pats didn’t waste much time striking at the Rams once again. This time a 6 play, 43 yard drive was culminated by a 24 yard Fivek scamper and the Pats were up 13-0. The Rams pushed back after this score with a 10 play drive to the Pats 24 that ate up the remainder of the 1st quarter and well into the 2nd quarter. But the CC defense got fortunate after a Rams backfield miscue led to a loose ball that senior Aengus Wilson pounced on to end the threat. Only 4 plays later, the Pats offense struck again on another big play. This time Fivek hit junior Matt Carleton with a 44 yard run and catch that stretched the CC lead to 20-0. After another Patriots defensive stop, Carleton struck again. This time with a 49 yard jaunt through the Rams secondary to put CC up 27-0.
Once again, the Rams fought to get back into the game. The Rams ground pound flying wedge attack (no forward passes were attempted all game long) went 79 yards in 11 plays all the way to the Patriots 1 yard line. But senior Ryan DeMayo decided to put an end to the threat with a spectacular strip of the Rams ballcarrier after which he returned the fumble 99 yards to effectively seal the game at 34-0. The Rams added a touchdown at the end of the half to cut the deficit to 34-8 but never threatened in the 2nd half. Hoover added another receiving TD in the 3rd to make the final score 41-8 Patriots.
