Suddenly, Notre Dame Is Reeling

Two weeks ago, Notre Dame High’s football team was unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in Southern Section Division III. Now, after a stunning 28-24 loss to St. Francis in a Mission League opener Friday night, the Knights are 4-2 and need to regroup.

“We just hope we can get better and battle for the league championship and make the playoffs,” Notre Dame Coach Kevin Rooney said. “We’d like a second chance to play St. Francis [in the playoffs], but if we don’t improve, that won’t happen.”

St. Francis (4-2) pulled off the upset because of dominating play by an offensive line that averages 6 feet 2 and 258 pounds and allowed the Golden Knights to run 63 offensive plays to Notre Dame’s 35.

The most focused member of that unit may have been senior guard Taylor Ketchum, who was visibly ill as the Golden Knights marched 70 yards in 18 plays to score the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Despite a sprained ankle, St. Francis tailback Darius Brown outrushed Notre Dame’s Justin Fargas, gaining 146 yards in 30 carries compared to Fargas’ 80 yards in 12 carries.

Golden Knight quarterback Kjell Nesen, a senior transfer from Westlake, entered the game having completed 48% of his passes for 317 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Friday, he completed all three of his passes for 54 yards.