DeSmet Defense Stymies SLUH In MCC Football Opener

ST. LOUIS -- The first half of Friday night's Metro Catholic Conference football opener between the DeSmet Spartans and SLUH Jr. Billikens didn't feature much action.

That's because both teams' defenses were dominating the action.

SLUH held DeSmet's highly touted offense to just one first down through its first five possessions. And in turn, DeSmet only allowed SLUH's offense three first downs -- one on a penalty -- through the entire first half.

The defenses were dominating.

But eventually, DeSmet found a spark which got it going and the No. 2-ranked Spartans rode that wave through the rest of the game, which turned out to be a 23-3 win over the Jr. Bills.

"We struggled offensively at times tonight, but that's going to happen, especially against a conference opponent," De Smet head coach John Merritt said. "From start to finish, I thought our defense was outstanding again tonight. SLUH really played us tough, especially in the first half, but we made a few adjustments and got the result we needed."

DeSmet improved to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in MCC play, while SLUH fell to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

"It took us a while to get it going tonight, but eventually we were able to take control,'' DeSmet running back Jayden McCaster said. "They frustrated us early -- we knew they had a couple of top players in Landon Pace and Keenan Harris -- and that we'd be in for a battle tonight. But we made the needed adjustments, trusted ourselves and eventually took control of the game."

SLUH actually held the first lead of the game. The Jr. Bills were sparked by a 33 yard punt return by senior Matthew Moore.

That gave SLUH the ball on DeSmet's 32-yard line. The Jr. Bills moved to the 15, before having to settle for a 32 yard field goal by Christian Ziegler that put the home team up 3-0.

The score stayed that way until a big punt return by DeSmet gave the visitors some momentum. Junior Trevon Collard broke free for a 25 yard punt return that gave the Spartans the ball on SLUH's 30-yard line.

Two players later, McCaster took a swing pass near the right sideline, made a couple of cuts to his left, then picked up some blocks downfield, before he eventually raced 34 yards for a touchdown that gave the Spartans a 7-3 lead.

The DeSmet defense provided the game's next score, early in the third quarter, when senior safety A.J. Byerley picked off a pass from SLUH's Kyren Eleby and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown that put the Spartans up 14-3.

Senior linebacker and Mizzou commit Jason King intercepted a pass on SLUH's next possession. That set up DeSmet's next score, a 34 yard touchdown pass from Dillon Duff to Liam Russo with just under four minutes left in the third quarter. The point after attempt was blocked, so the Spartans led 20-3.

In the fourth quarter, after another dynamite punt return by Collard, which gave DeSmet the ball on SLUH's 9-yard line, the Spartans evntually settled for a field goal by Mark Gaertner to close out the scoring.

Duff finished his night, nine-for-18 for 116 yards, with the two touchdown throws and no interceptions.

On defense, King led DeSmet with eight tackles, including a quarterback sack and the interception. Teammate Quincy Byas, who tipped the pass that King intercepted, had seven tackles and two sacks of his own.

"When we play defense like that, in control and winning the field position game, we know we're going to be successful," Merritt said. "Quincy Byas really played well tonight and so did (defensive lineman) Titan Davis and (defensive backs) Tre Collard and A.J. Byerley. And I thought Luke Mosquera was tremendously disruptive tonight. We were able to play a bunch of guys on defense and I think that'll make us a force to be reckoned with."

The Spartans will have another huge MCC matchup next week. They'll be hosting No. 3-ranked CBC, Friday night at DeSmet, at 6 p.m.

2024 DESMET SPARTANS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 20 vs. #3 CBC -- 6 pm
Sept. 27 vs. Vianney -- 6 pm
Oct. 4 at Chaminade -- 6 pm
Oct. 11 at Festus -- 7 pm
Oct. 18 vs. #1 Cardinal Ritter -- 7 pm
Oct. 25 at #9 Edwardsville -- 7 pm