St. Francis dominates Riordan 50-28

By Pete Borello, Town Crier Staff Writer

photos by R. Alan Hwang/special to the Town Crier Thomas Evans carries for St. Francis. He totaled 71 yards Friday.

Don’t be fooled by the final score: St. Francis 50, Riordan 28. Friday’s game really wasn’t that close.

If head coach Mike Mitchell hadn’t mercifully pulled his starters by halftime - with the host Lancers leading 36-14 - they might have eclipsed the school record of 63 points.

St. Francis moved the ball with ease, scoring on its first eight possessions, and didn’t let Riordan star Tyrone McGraw do likewise. The halfback’s 151 rushing yards was 49 below his per-game average, and most of those yards came against the Lancers’ reserves.

“He’s a very good back and he’s fast, very fast,” St. Francis linebacker/halfback Matt Taufoou said. “We knew we had to key on him - don’t give him the corner and make him cut back. I think we did a good job catching him and containing him.”

The Lancers (5-0) ended Riordan’s opening drive by catching McGraw three yards shy of the end zone. The Crusaders went for it on fourth-and-1 from the 4, and St. Francis defensive tackle Mark Boskovich stuffed McGraw as he crossed the line of scrimmage.

The St. Francis offense took the field and quickly took control of the West Catholic Athletic League opener. Aided by three Riordan penalties, the Lancers drove 97 yards in four plays and scored on Taufoou’s 45-yard run.

“The line did a great job; they stayed with their blocks,” said Taufoou, who finished with 68 yards on three carries. “Once I saw the hole open and I got past the safety, I didn’t think (the defense) would catch me.”

After the St. Francis defense held Riordan (2-3) to a three-and-out series, the offense put together another scoring drive. Quarterback Richie Scudellari got it going with a 30-yard pass to tight end Rhett Ellison, with the Crusaders needing three players to drag him down. After Taufoou’s 21-yard run, halfback Ryan Perry crossed the goal line on an 8-yard burst.

Perry scored the Lancers’ next touchdown as well, a 1-yard plunge. A fumble by McGraw set up the score, giving St. Francis the ball at Riordan’s 23.

The Crusaders’ next possession ended in disaster as well: a blocked punt that put St. Francis in enviable field position once again. The Lancers scored on their first play, a 17-yard scamper by Thomas Evans. The junior halfback finished with a team-high 71 yards on six carries.

Michael Calcagno’s 27-yard field goal midway through the second quarter boosted the lead to 30-0.

After Riordan responded with a touchdown, the Lancers countered with Scudellari’s 23-yard scoring strike to Ellison. It would be the last pass of the night for Scudellari (3 of 3, 80 yards).

St. Francis did nothing but run in the second half, and it seemed everybody got a turn. Fourteen players toted the ball in all - a school record.

St. Francis visits Mitty (0-1, 2-2-1) at 7 p.m. Friday.

Other local games

Mountain View led 7-0 at the half, but host Wilcox rallied for a 23-14 win to open SCVAL De Anza Division play Friday. The Spartans have lost three in a row after winning their 2005 opener.