Notre Dame's Andrew Banks (2) turns the corner to head up field and gain some yardage against Alcoa Friday night at Bill Bailey Stadium. The Irish were eliminated by the Tornadoes, 42-2, in their Class 3A semi-final playoff contest.
photo by Dennis Norwood
ALCOA -- It's hard to get past the cold hard facts.
Notre Dame's Fighting Irish football team had another outstanding season, but it ended the same way as last year with a semifinal loss to the Alcoa Tornadoes.
It wasn't as close as last year's 28-19 defeat as Alcoa gave up a safety in its first possession before scoring 42 straight points, winning for the 10th straight week with a 42-2 victory.
The Irish were hoping to avoid early critical mistakes that doomed their chances last fall at Finley Stadium, but turnovers were the culprit once more as Alcoa more than took advantage of Notre Dame's mistakes.
Give the Fighting Irish defense a lot of credit as they played their hearts out and probably deserved a better fate.
Alcoa only had 159 yards of total offense as the Notre Dame defense allowed just 56 yards on the ground in 33 attempts. The Tornadoes only had seven first downs for the game
But the Irish offense was facing the best high school defense in the state and they never really got things going. Alcoa's defense was simply bigger, faster and harder hitting than any team the Irish had faced in a long, long time.
It was insult added to injury as a number of Notre Dame players were knocked out with injuries, including Tyler Enos with a suspected broken hand and Andrew Banks on a separated shoulder.
"Our defense played amazing, but we made too many mistakes in this game and you can't do that against a great team like Alcoa," said Notre Dame coach Charles Fant after his team's season ended at 10-4.
"We lost a bunch of really good players from last year's team, so for us to make it back to the semifinals is just phenomenal, but you have to be able to move the football and we had a tough time doing that.
"I hate it for the kids as they battled their hearts out and I'm proud that we never quit," Fant added.
Most folks were expecting a defensive struggle and that's the way it started out, but after the Irish grabbed a 2-0 lead with a safety midway through the first quarter, it was all Alcoa.
"We didn't do a very job of executing at the beginning of the game and Notre Dame had a lot to do with that, but we found ways to get into the end zone and that's what it's all about," said Alcoa coach Gary Rankin, who now has an impressive record of 130-15 in 10 years with his current team.
The legendary Alcoa coach is now 16-2 all-time in semifinal games, included 8-0 at Alcoa. The Tornadoes will be playing for their 14th state title next Friday in Cookeville, facing Christ Presbyterian Academy at 4 p.m. (EST).
"We had a sorry first quarter as we just weren't very aggressive up front, but our defense has been outstanding all year and our quarterback threw some good balls.
"This is the second straight week where we've shut out teams with very potent offenses and I'm really proud of that. I figured that Notre Dame might score eventually, but they never did," Rankin added.
The first three possessions ended in punts with Notre Dame's second being downed at the Alcoa 11. Junior defensive end Patrick Johnson broke through the Alcoa line and tackled quarterback Jaylen Myers for a safety and the Irish had the upper hand with 6:56 left in the opening quarter.
Alcoa forced the first big play on Notre Dame's next possession when an Irish punt was blocked, giving the Tornadoes first and goal at the 5.
The Irish defense stood tall and kept Alcoa out of the end zone, stopping backup quarterback Mitchell McClurg for no gain at the 2 on fourth down.
Unfortunately, the wall started to come tumbling down two plays later when Irish quarterback Alex Darras lost a fumble at the 5, which was recovered by McClurg's twin brother Matthew.
Mitchell refused to be denied on the third play as he scored on a keeper from the 4.
Another turnover on Notre Dame's next possession led to Alcoa's second touchdown.
Terran Cox returned that pick back to the 12 and it took all of one play for Myers to hook up with Tykee Kellogg in the right corner of the end zone for another TD.
The difference was 14-2 when the first quarter finally ended.
Alcoa's only sustained drive in the first half also resulted in a touchdown as Malik Salter scored from the 1 with 7:08 left before intermission, capping an eight-play, 63-yard drive.
The Notre Dame faithful had high hopes that their team could come back in the second half, but it was obvious that the Irish were a beaten football team before the third quarter ever began as they came back onto the field slowly and with their chins on their chests.
It didn't take long for Alcoa to put an end to any comeback hopes as Dustin Clabough's 91-yard kickoff return gave his team first down at the Notre Dame 6. Salter scored on the first play while a 26-yard interception return for a TD by Garrett Livesay made it 35-2 with 10:32 left in the third.
The Tornadoes had another interception return for a touchdown by Clabough three plays later, but it was wiped off when one of his teammates got penalized for pass interference.
The mercy rule finally took over at the 8:19 mark of the fourth stanza after TayLen McNear scored the final touchdown for Alcoa on a six-yard run.
Notre Dame had one good opportunity to score in the first half, but a 35-yard field goal attempt by Darras was wide left with 2:24 showing. Then with 24 seconds remaining, Notre Dame signaled for a fair catch on a punt and then chose to take a free kick, but Darras 59-yard attempt was wide left again.
The final drive of the game was Notre Dame's last chance as the Irish moved from their own 31 down to the Alcoa 1 before being flagged for an illegal shift. An incomplete pass by Darras then ended the game.
It was a miserable game for the Notre Dame quarterback, who has had an outstanding career in football and baseball. He finished Friday's game with just six completions in 21 passing attempts with three interceptions.
The Fighting Irish actually won the statistical battle, but moral victories are worth nothing.
Darras battled his way for 48 yards on 15 carries as Notre Dame finished with 118 yards on the ground. Akil Sledge followed with 39 yards on eight attempts.
The Irish added 92 yards through the air with Cameron Wynn's 46 yards on two catches leading the way. Caleb Woody had one reception for another 30 yards.
The Irish also won the first down battle by an 11-7 margin.
NOTRE DAME 2 0 0 0 -- 2
ALCOA 14 7 14 7 -- 42
ND -- safety when Jaylen Myers tackled in end zone by Patrick Johnson, 6:56 left in first;
ALC -- Mitchell McClurg 4 run (Ben Smith kick), 1:49 left in first;
ALC -- Tykee Kellogg 12 pass from Myers (Smith kick), 0:40.3 left in first;
ALC -- Malik Salter 1 run (Smith kick), 7:08 left in second;
ALC -- Salter 6 run (Smith kick), 11:36 left in third;
ALC -- Garrett Livesay 26 interception return (Smith kick), 10:32 left in third;
ALC -- Taylen McNear 6 run (Smith kick), 8:19 left in fourth.
(email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)
Notre Dame quarterback Alex Darras (15) is pressured by Alcoa's Dustin Clabaugh (1). The Tornadoes' defense was tough against the Irish all night long.
photo by Dennis Norwood