Driscoll outscores Marian Central

Driscoll found itself in quite a predicament Friday night against Marian Central when the Highlanders squeaked out a 42-35 victory.

After leading for the first 44 minutes of the game and owning a 16-point lead, the Hurricanes' Andrew Stochl took a quarterback sneak in from 1 yard out and then completed a 2-point conversion pass to Adam Olson to knot the game up at 35-35 with 3:25 remaining.

Marian also scored on its previous possession on a 58-yard touchdown pass to Eli McGuire and converted a 2-point conversion. But Driscoll did not crumble.

"I am proud of our kids that we didn't fold," Driscoll coach Brandon New said. "We are a young team and sometimes young teams panic in tight situations."

On the ensuing kickoff New wanted to get the ball in one of his playmakers' hands. The ball went to Nick Campanella, who returned the kickoff 46 yards to get the ball on the Hurricanes side of the field. Back-to-back scrambles of 18 yards by quarterback Steve Schwabe got the ball down to the 2-yard line.

That was when New decided to put Campanella in at quarterback and run back-to-back quarterback draws. The first time he jumped over the line and came up inches short.

The next play he took the ball into the pile and then bounced it outside and walked into the end zone with 1:31 remaining, giving Driscoll a 42-35 lead. It was Campanella's third touchdown of the game.

"When they scored we all kind of went, 'Oh no,' " Campanella said. "I knew that we needed to get the ball in the end zone on the next drive. After the first carry when they stopped me, I knew our line would be a little fired up and get it done the next play. They did and we were able to pull it out. We knew this was going to be a tough game."

Stochl talked after the game that they approached Driscoll as if it were a playoff game because they need one more win to be playoff elgible.

"We played this game like it really mattered," Stochl said. "But next week's game is the one that really matters. If we win, we get to play another game. If we lose, it will be the senior's last high school game. We need to win or it's over for us."

Stochl finished the game 11 of 27 for 217 yards and had one touchdown pass and two rushing touchdowns. Schwabe finshed the game 10 of 15 for 134 yards and 3 touchdown passes. He also rushed for 93 yards.

"Steve had an all-around great game," Campanella said. "Without him it would have been pretty difficult to pull the victory out. He did it all."