Hawks romp past Irish for Homecoming win

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 23 September 2017 at 5:48 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Camron Labarge tries to stretch for a touchdown during the Hawks Homecoming win over Notre Dame this afternoon as Joe Kaus makes the tackle for the Irish.

Snapping a season opening three game losing streak in impressive fashion, Holley romped to a 47-21 Homecoming victory over visiting Notre Dame this afternoon.

Quarterback Jeremy Mallett and running backs Camron Labarge and Jacob Affronti each scored two touchdowns to spearhead the Holley offense.

The Hawks defense also had a big day as Ryan Andrews returned an interception for a touchdown while Jamel Hilbreth and Labarge also both had picks and Mallett and Matt Hahn both had fumble recoveries.

Holley’s Matt Hahn and Tony Farruggia combine to tackle Irish quarterback Tim Klotzbach.

“We had a very good week of practice and there was a lot of great unselfish team play out there today,” said Holley Coach Wil Prince. “We came out with some new formations to take advantage of our speed and that worked out very well.”

Holley, which had scored a total of only 12 points over the first three games, jumped out to a 14-0 first quarter lead and never trailed.

Mallett capped off a 13 play 8 minute long game opening drive with a 4 yard touchdown run with 4:01 to go in the opening quarter and the Hawks were off and rolling.

Labarge, who did yeoman work toting the ball all afternoon, had a 26 yard run and an 11 yard pass reception from Mallett to highlight the drive.

The Hawks wasted little time in upping the advantage to 14-0 as Affronti scored on a 17 yard run and added the two-point converse carry with :34 seconds to go in the period.  A 20 yard run by Labarge highlighted that drive which was set up by an interception by Hildreth near midfield.

Notre Dame did cut the deficit to 14-7 on a 7 yard touchdown pass from Tim Klotzbach to Grant Hens with 5:12 to go in the second quarter. An interception by Nico Zambito set up that opportunity.

However, Holley got that one right back when Mallett scored on a 1 yard run and Ryan Andrews added the extra point kick to make it 21-7 with 1:31 to go in the half.  A big 51 yard run by Labarge on a reverse keyed that drive.

The Hawks defense then stopped Notre Dame’s final drive of the half as Jacob Norman forced a fumble with a sack and Hahn made the recovery.

The Holley advantage jumped to 27-7 midway through the third quarter as Labarge scored on a 10 yard run, a tally set up by a 40 yard run by Mallett.

The Hawks lead then ballooned to 40-7 as Andrews scored on a 20 yard interception return with 1:45 to go in the third period and then Affronti tallied on a 62 yard run with 11:39 remaining in the final stanza.  An interception by Labarge set up that opportunity.

Labarge rounded out the Holley scoring with a 1 yard TD run with 4:10 remaining, a tally he set up himself with a 30 yard run following a fumble recovery by Mallett.

The Irish scored twice in the final seven minutes, the first on a 35 yard pass from Klotzbach to Zambito and the second on 4 yard pass from Klotzbach to Ryan Moffat.

Holley and Notre Dame are now both 1-3 on the season.

Holley’s Jamel Hildreth runs down the sideline after making an interception as Notre Dame’s Nico Zambito closes in to make the tackle.

Holley’s Jacob Affronti goes by Notre Dame defender Michael Keeler to gain yardage as Nicholas Schutz blocks.

Holley quarterback Jeremy Mallett gains big yardage on this run.