Neighbor News
No. 2 De Smet Gets Dusted By No. 3 CBC
The Spartans suffered their first loss of the 2024 season, Friday night at home.
| HS Football | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
| #3 CBC (3-1) | 7 | 3 | 21 | 7 | 38 |
| #2 De Smet (3-1) | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
CREVE COEUR - The De Smet Spartans suffered their first loss of the 2024 season, Friday night against rival CBC.
De Smet led 14-10 at halftime, but CBC scored four touchdowns in the second half -- three in a span of 84 seconds in the third quarter -- to take control in what proved to be a 38-14 defeat for the Spartans.
"They came out and just outplayed us in the second half," De Smet head coach John Merritt said. "We couldn't get anything done."
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The turn in the game actually began on what looked like a positive play for DeSmet. The Cadets were attempting a deep pass to star receiver Corey Simms, and it appeared to be intercepted by De Smet's Brayden Wakula. But the officials ruled the ball hit the ground before Wakula gained control of it and called it an incomplete pass.
Two plays later, CBC quarterback Nick McClellan broke free for a 59-yard touchdown run that, along with the extra-point, gave the Cadets a 17-14 lead.
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Two plays after that, De Smet receiver Nathan Hatcher caught a short pass and had it knocked out of his hands for a fumble that was recovered by CBC's Chris Wash. On the next play, McClellan hit Brycen Dorsey for a 35-yard touchdown that put the Cadets up 24-14.
De Smet fumbled the ensuing kickoff, which was also recovered by CBC. Two plays later, Courtney Rivers ran through a gaping hole for a 36 yard touchdown that made the score 31-14. In a span of just nine plays following the possible interception that was ruled an incompletion, CBC scored more points than De Smet had previously given up all season.
CBC added another touchdown midway through the fourth quarter to put the game away.
"In high school football, it's about momentum," CBC head coach Scott Pingel said. "Any time you can do something like that, you're in pretty good shape."
Both clubs are now 3-1 on the season. CBC holds first place in the Metro Catholic Conference standings with a 2-0 record. De Smet is 0-1 in MCC play.
The Spartan loss wasted a dynamite effort by junior running back Jayden McCaster, who finished the night having carried the ball 23 times for 128 yards and a touchdown.
It was his 18-yard run on the first play of the second quarter that allowed De Smet to tie the score at 7. CBC had taken the initial lead early in the first quarter on a 58-yard run by senior A.J. Morris.
The Cadets re-took the lead late in the second quarter on a 35-yard field goal by Gabe Schantz.
De Smet's best drive of the game was the one that gave the Spartans their first lead of the night. The home team drove 65 yards on 10 plays and capped it with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Dillon Duff to Liam Russo.
The 14-10 halftime score held until CBC took control with the series of big plays in the third quarter.
"This was not a fun night," Merritt said. "But we'll get back to work and work on some things we need to improve on. We'll be better from this."
De Smet will be back at home next Friday, when it will host Vianney in another MCC league game. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
2024 DESMET SPARTANS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
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
