Marist Saw More Than Enough of Nazareth's Running Game
The Roadrunners threw the ball only three times in their victory on Friday night, and that's exactly what they wanted to do.
Go to any high school orientation, and one of the main pieces of advice you're likely to hear is “Be Yourself.” Don’t give in to peer pressure; don’t force yourself to do anything you don’t want to do. Be you. Do what you do.
And that’s exactly what Nazareth did on Friday night against Marist. With running backs Rudy Romagnano and Josh Moore, the Roadrunners were going to run the ball more than 90 percent of the time.
That was no secret to Marist coach Pat Dunne. It was hardly a mystery to any spectator in the rain-soaked bleachers. The Roadrunners were going to run until Marist stopped them, consistently. They were going to run until they were forced to do something different.
They never had to.
Romagnano broke a 77-yard touchdown run on his second carry of the game and Nazareth went up 7-0. From there, Marist was always fighting to get back in the game, and the Redhawks never once held a lead. When the dust had settled, Nazareth had powered its way to a 33-20 victory.
“We need to just learn from this and get better,” Marist’s Ryan Meyer said. “We need to respond to what they’re doing to us. We just need to work harder.”
The RedHawks (3-2 overall, 3-1 East Suburban Catholic) tied the game at 7-all midway through the second quarter, but Nazareth (4-1, 4-1) responded immediately, and it was Romagnano who finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to give the Roadrunners a 14-7 lead.
It was a lead they would never relinquish, and it was instrumental in allowing Nazareth to consistently run the ball. The Roadrunners never felt the pressure of trying to score quickly. They never had to do anything out of their comfort zone. Nazareth QB Sam Poulos threw the ball only three times Friday night, just once in the second half.
Dunne didn’t think his defense was bullied by Nazareth’s offensive line. In fact, he thought the defense’s physical play was one of the positives to come out of Friday night’s loss. On half of Romagnano’s carries, Marist’s defense stuffed the bruising tailback for three yards or less.
“Our defense, I thought, came to play physical and did a good job tonight in regards to shutting down certain things we were worried about,” Dunne said.
Yet it only took a handful of big plays from Romagnano to make the difference.
And those big plays came because of a true commitment to the run. They came within the normal flow of Nazareth’s offense.
They came the Roadrunner way.
Darnell
9:13 am on Sunday, September 25, 2011
What Marist also saw and that never seems to be reported was the unsportsmanlike conduct of the Nazareth student fan body who continually chanted BULLSHIT BULLSHIT every time Marist scored or Nazareth was penalized. I'm sure the Sisters of St. Joseph are very proud of the lack of morals displayed as are the parents, especially for the money they pay for their childrens education and a moraly strict catholic upbringing. I guess their display falls under the Spirit section of the schools Mission Statement!
Ross Jacobson
10:07 am on Sunday, September 25, 2011
I do recognize the fact that those chants existed. And even as someone who was part of those high school and college student sections, I never liked that chant. But I don't think it was that important to be put in my story. Best thing is to bring this up with the Nazareth administration. Thanks for reading.
Darnell
10:33 am on Sunday, September 25, 2011
My comment wasn't a snipe at your article, I apologize if you interpreted it that way.It was very good. I just wanted to point out that although they had a victory it wasn't all that Golden, It was tarnished by the behavior of the student body. A similar e-mail will be sent to the Nazareth Administration be rest assured! With that being said one final note. Had that been the Marist student body, a handful of Marist students or even one, history has shown it would have been called out, in a heartbeat!
jean weishar
10:47 am on Monday, September 26, 2011
What Student Body? Marist calls themselves the Rowdies??? They should be embarrased to say the least! Every game we parents look to our Redhawk Rowdies to get the crowd going and to help our team get the victory and every game we are disappointed. Every visiting team that has come to our field this year have cheered louder and longer than our so called "Rowdies". Our student body needs to learn from the other schools and should protect our home field! NO visiting team should have a larger student body than the home team! The band needs to get more involved as well!
Darnell
11:35 am on Monday, September 26, 2011
I agree whole heartidly with you however, they are held in check by one of the Deans of Students. She has the student body under the thumb screws.She throws detentions around like a drunken sailor with $20 bills on leave. She cruises the student section like a shark watching them and taking notes. This has been a complaint from both my sons and ALL their friends in the 6 years I've been affiliated. They are afraid to express themselves for fear of reprisal for something she doesn't like or she see's that violates the conduct code! Both my sons play, one in college one at Marist. My oldest and youngest played with both your sons on Raiders. Believe me this frustrates me just as it does you but there is a reason for it! God forbid you should ever have dealings with her!
Hawk12
2:33 pm on Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Jean Weishar,
Soulds like your a little upsat your son didn't follow in Andrew's footsteps to Brother Rice. Perhaps you were happier with Brotjer Rice?
jean weishar
2:58 pm on Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Not at all unhappy with Marist. And will always support Br. Rice. Both excellent schools, best decisions we made for all 3 of our sons. Just need the Marist Rowdies to "GET ROWDY" !!!!!