Notre Dame holds own in STM scrimmage

LAFAYETTE – One thing for sure, there was no lack of intensity in Thursday’s scrimmage between Notre Dame and St. Thomas More. And you can expect that to be taken up a notch this week when the teams meet again in the Kiwanis Jamboree.
The unique scrimmage format affords coaches the opportunity to evaluate players in position and individual drills before concluding with a limited play full team scrimmage.
“It is more of a controlled situation that allows you to do some things you might not get to do in a straight game type scrimmage,” explained Pios coach Lewis Cook. “When we do the inside drills you get 12 plays you might not run in the scrimmage. The perimeter passing drills gave us the chance to throw several routes we didn’t get to use in the team scrimmage.”
Much like last year, Notre Dame was in control on those opening inside drills. Offensively, Lance Bertrand and Gabe Petry repeatedly popped through the STM defensive front opened by blockers up front. Across the field, Pios defensive starters kept the Cougars in check at the line of scrimmage allowing just one five yard run and 14 total yards in twelve plays.
“In those drills, the biggest thing I’m looking for is who is going to play physical, who is going to hold the point,” noted Pios defensive coordinator James McCleary. “In that kind of inside work we get to see who is going to hold their ground and not get knocked back and who’s going to put a guy in the hole.”
St. Thomas More went on offense first in starters on starters scrimmage and picked up a first down on a twelve yard third down pass. The Pios defense took over with Conner Fay busting up a bubble screen for a two yard loss and Paul Guidry running down a screen pass to hold STM to a short gain. Trey Vautrot pressued STM QB William Bellamy into a third down incompletion and the Cougars finished the possession without another first down.
“I thought we tackled well, really flew around to the ball on defense and we were able to get pressure on the passer a few times,” added Coach Cook. “We saw a lot of positive things on offense, got a lot of guys in there and made some good plays. Everybody gets to play and we had some guys get a taste of the action which we hope will help us down the line.”
Of immediate help was the Notre Dame offensive possession. After a couple of penalties nullified big plays, the Pios marched 65 yards in seven plays for the only score of the night.
Senior quarterback Joe Faulk scrambled 23 yards for a first down at the STM 42 yard line. Sophomore tailback Collin Kirsch added twelve yards on a draw and Faulk then rolled right for an eleven yard completion to David Gonzales.
On the next play, Faulk optioned left and tucked inside the end with a couple of nifty moves on the way to the end zone. The nineteen yard scoring run gave Faulk 42 rushing yards to go with 18 yards on two pass completions for the scrimmage.
STM answered with a 38 yard pass for first and goal at the Pios five. Three plays later, aided by Jake Reiners sacking Bellamy for a loss, STM played fourth and goal from the six. ND safety Pete Brown intercepted a pass in the end zone to save the shutout.
“We gave up the big pass play, but they never could really sustain a drive on us,” summed up Cook. “They have a week to get ready for us in the jamboree and I expect they will turn that around and do some things better. We just have to be ready to answer.”
The Pios and Cougars meet in the final game of Thursday night action in the Kiwanis Jamboree at Cajun Field.