The Brother Rice Crusaders came into this game with a bitter taste in their mouth. They had lost in week nine at home to the Loyola Ramblers who barely got into the playoffs. Pity the Curie Condors who took the brunt of a 42-21 beating from the angry Crusaders. As Austin McDonough put it best, "It was the Loyola game that gave us the wake-up call that we needed."
Joe Gibson got the party started in a big way. Taking the handoff from Bob Stumpe, Gibby raced the left sideline untouched for an 89 yard touchdown and a 7-0 Rice lead. Mr. McDonough then made his appearance later in the first quarter with a 31-yard touchdown run and a 14-0 lead into the second stanza.
Senior QB Tim Evans returned from an injury and though he had a couple of fumbles, he got back into the offense and back to hitting his favorite target in wide receiver Paul Gannon. In a second quarter drive, Gannon made a side-winding leaping catch for a 20-yard gain that set up the duo hooking up for a 10-yard scoring pass. Later in the second, Evans hooked up with tight end Pat Walsh in the right corner of the end zone for a 28-0 lead.
In the third, Curie showed signs of life as wide receiver Renault Sims took a pass over the middle and raced 74 yards for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 28-7. But any doubt that remained in this game was quickly erased as Rice countered and than man McDonough galloped 13 yards for a 35-7 Rice lead.
By: Brian Snow
Announcer/Reporter - RiceNet and ISNet Chicago
