Benet continues to struggle

The Benet Redwings experienced a mixed bag of results Saturday afternoon in their football game against Nazareth Academy.

Unfortunately for Benet, the final result ended was loss, as the Redwings dropped a 36-14 decision in LaGrange Park.

The 22-point loss drops Benet to 0-3, as the Redwings struggle to deal with lapses in concentration.

"Too many mistakes," Benet coach Gary Goforth said. "We don't finish things, and that's the big kicker."

Benet began the game on a positive note, methodically marching the ball 66 yards downfield for its first touchdown of the season. Senior quarterback John Paul Payne looked sharp on the drive, completing all four of his pass attempts for a total of 51 yards.

Things quickly soured for the Redwings, though, as Nazareth Academy answered with a touchdown of its own to take a 7-6 lead.

Roadrunners quarterback Phillip Kaiser found 6-foot-3 senior Patrick Reardon down the left sideline for the go-ahead score.

Benet found more trouble in the second quarter, losing fumbles on its first two possessions, forcing the defense out on the field for a sizable portion of the period.

In all the Redwings offense turned the ball over three times in the first half, causing tension between players on different sides of the ball.

"We had a division in the team between offense and defense," Benet senior Pete Schimeck said. "We've just got to stay together.

"We've got to regroup and stop making mental mistakes, that's what's killing us."

After replacing Payne in the second quarter, junior Jimmy Riley finally settled down in the final period. Riley threw for 76 yards in the fourth, including a 25-yard touchdown strike to wideout Ben Menconi that brought the Redwings within 24.

The Roadrunners, meanwhile, were all smiles after Saturday's game, and with good reason. Nazareth christened its new field with the win while also giving its seniors a great senior day memory.

"I was really pleased with the effort," Roadrunners coach Tim Racki said. "You don't want to put too much pressure on yourself and press with all the distractions."

Sophomore tailback La Steven McKinney put the nail in Benet's coffin early in the fourth quarter, breaking through the defense and down the right sideline for a 62-yard touchdown, making the score 30-6. McKinney got stronger as the game went on, gaining 197 yards on the day, including 110 yards in the fourth quarter.