The McDonogh football team knew it was going to have to lean on its defense a little more Friday against visiting Calvert Hall.
That side of the ball certainly responded for the Eagles, who also got a lift from junior kicker Aidan Zoeller.
The No. 3 Eagles forced four turnovers in the first half and Zoeller accounted for the game’s first nine points with three second-quarter field goals, paving the way for a comfortable 37-17 win over the No. 6 Cardinals in Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference play.
Quarterback Braeden Palazzo threw two touchdown passes and running back Mason Graham ran for two scores as McDonogh (7-1) strengthened its hold on second place with a 4-1 conference mark. Calvert Hall (4-3) is now 1-2 in the conference.
Big plays on defense came from a handful of Eagles. Linebacker Kamden Laudenslager recovered a fumble and defensive back Carlos Ferguson recorded an interception in the first quarter. Then lineman Joseph Buchanan had a sack and fumble recovery before defensive back Brandon Finney captured the Eagles’ second pick of the half.
With Calvert Hall’s defense also proving formidable, the Eagles only mustered a 9-0 lead before Finney’s interception gave the McDonogh the ball on the Cardinals’ 40-yard line with 1:21 to play in the half. It took six plays and 53 seconds for the Eagles to finally find the end zone, with Palazzo finding Finney for an 18-yard touchdown pass for a 16-0 halftime lead.
“You have to give credit to Calvert Hall’s defense … Our guys knew this was going to be a challenge. And we challenged our defense to get some stops and make plays,” McDonogh coach Hakeem Sule said. “We preached pursuit throughout the week and getting to the ball, and we knew there would be some opportunities and our guys were able to make some plays.”
With the lead at 16-3 midway through the third quarter, the Eagles’ offense took advantage of a Cardinals defense that spent a lot of time on the field in the first half. An eight-play, 80-yard drive featured a 16-yard pass from Palazzo to Jeff Exinor Jr. and a 35-yard scamper by Graham before Palazzo found Nick Abrams from 5 yards out to make it 23-3.
Down 30-3 in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals rallied, getting an electric 93-yard kickoff return from Chris Hewitt Jr. to provide a spark. After lineman Emile Dore stripped Palazzo in the backfield and recovered the ball at McDonogh 9, running back John Asuquo needed three carries, the last one from 4 yards out, to make it 30-17 with 8:53 to play.
McDonogh’s defense would step up again to reassure the home crowd. The Cardinals had the ball on their 47 when end Jameson Exinor deflected quarterback Mekhi Brown’s pass. On fourth-and-8, Brown connected with Hewitt on a short pass, but Buchanan’s sure tackle kept him short of the first-down marker.
After rattling off a lengthy list of defenders who made big plays for the Eagles, who also got three sacks, Laudenslager added: “It’s great because we know somebody is going to make a play every time, and the defense this whole year has just been stellar. I’m so proud of all the guys.”
A methodical seven-play, 51-yard drive featured 23 yards from Graham, who scored from 10 yards to ice the win. Zoeller added four extra points to his three field goals.
Calvert Hall coach Josh Ward gave credit to his defense for hanging touch and also looked at the strong fourth quarter to build on as the Cardinals travel to St. Mary’s next Friday in what he called a must-win game to stay in playoff contention. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
“Offensively, we said before the game that the team that’s going to win this is going to be the one who has the least amount of turnovers and controls the ball,” Ward said. “So now we got to bounce back. Monday we got to go back and work on the things we talked about.”
McDonogh has next week off before hosting conference foe Concordia Prep at 6 p.m. Oct. 25.
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