Madonna tops Clarksburg Notre Dame

WEIRTON - On a night designed to honor Madonna's football seniors, a sophomore swiped the spotlight.

Ross Comis, the 10-grade quarterback for the Blue Dons, ran for 167 yards and two scores as West Virginia's 11th-ranked Class A club earned a 28-14 victory Saturday over Clarksburg Notre Dame.

The contest was Madonna's final regular season game at Jimmy Carey Stadium. Now 5-2, the Blue Dons will travel to Fairmont State this week for a tussle with unbeaten Wahama.

In addition to his rushing performance, Comis also threw for 81 yards, hitting nine of 17 tries. On the defensive side of the ball, he came through with a key interception, his third of the season, late in the fourth quarter. Comis' diving pick set the stage for Madonna's final score.

"He definitely can make plays," Coach Doug Taylor said. "He's a big part of our offense and our defense. Late in the game, we wanted to keep the ball in his hands."

Nick Ossman, another sophomore, also had a big night for the Dons, gaining 65 stripes on 16 tries and adding two scores. As a team, Madonna ran for 246 yards.

"We finally were able to get our running game going," Taylor added. "Christian Roe was out again and Ossman got dinged up a little. That put us in a bind for a while. They had a definite size advantage on us, but our offensive line played pretty well. A win is a win."

Notre Dame, now 2-5, got on the board first when junior linebacker Connor McKinsey stepped in front of a Comis pass and rumbled 15 yards to the end zone. Drew Ridgway added the point from placement.

Madonna would come right back, however, marching 64 yards in 10 plays. Comis accounted for 52 of the total and scored on a one yard sneak. Joe McCombs connected on first of four extra-point kicks.

The Irish were guilty of roughing the kicker on the conversion and the Blue Dons made them pay for the infraction. McCombs' pooch kick following the penalty was recovered by Will Bowser at the Notre Dame 17. Comis put Madonna ahead to! stay wh en he powered his way for a touchdown on a quarterback draw.

Ossman got his first score late in the third quarter after Notre Dame decided to go for it on fourth and long deep in its own territory. The Blue Don defense wasn't fooled and the hosts took over at the Irish 25. Ossman went over from two yards away five plays later.

Notre Dame cut the lead to 21-14 early in the final period when Tony Sestito found Nicholas Alvaro for a 15-yard scoring toss.

The Irish defense got a stop and the visitors were in business again. That's when Comis recorded his key interception. On the ensuing Madonna possession, Comis helped ice the win when he scrambled for 19 yard on a third and long. The sophomore showed his athleticism, dodging several tacklers and running over another. His run was followed by Ossman's 16-yard scoring burst.

The Madonna defense had a good night, holding the Irish to just 49 yards on the ground. Sestito did manage to pass for 156.

"We knew coming in that Notre Dame would be tough and they played their part well," Taylor said. "They gave us all we wanted."

Prior to the game, Madonna honored its 10 seniors who were playing for the final time at home.

After the game with Wahama, the Blue Dons will finish the regular season by visiting Toronto and Clay-Battelle.

Madonna 28, Notre Dame 14

Madonna 0 14 7 7 - 28

ND 0 7 0 7 - 14

ND: McKinsey, 15 interception return (Ridgway kick)

MHS: Comis, 1 run (McCombs kick)

MHS: Comis 17 run (McCombs kick)

MHS: Ossman 2 run (McCombs kick)

ND: Alvaro 15 pass from Sestito (Ridgway kick)

MHS: Ossman 16 run (McCombs kick)

RUSHING: Madonna 44-246-4 (Comis 24-167-2; Ossman 16-65-2; Nero 3-12; Mozingo 1-21) ND 20-49 (Cava 10-16; Sestito 4-14; Harlow 1-5; Alvaro 1-3; Watson 4-11).

PASSING: Madonna 9-17-81-0-1 (all by Comis); ND 12-32-156-1-1 (Sestito 12-31-156-1-1).

RECEIVING: Madonna (Bowser 2-25; Nero 2-17; Howell 2-11; Hypes 1-22; Ossman 2-6); ND (Alvaro 6-! 110-1; W atson 2-20; Harlow 3-16; Cava 1-11).

FIRST DOWNS: Madonna 17; ND 10.

PENALTIES-YARDS: Madonna 4-30; ND 5-27.

PUNTS: Madonna 3-33; ND 5-26.

FUMBLES-LOST: Madonna 1-1; ND 1-0.