CCSJ Sprint Football pulls out 24-18 overtime victory over Bellarmine

Whiting, IN – After what seemed to be their worst first half of football all season, the Calumet College of St. Joseph Sprint Football team managed to score 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and overtime to come away with a 24-18 win at home on Saturday night.

How it Happened

The game began with Bellarmine receiving the football in good field position at their own 49-yard line. The Knights marched down the field in six plays, making it to the CCSJ 7-yard line before Jared Cuevas Cottrell snatched down his first interception of the season. 

On the ensuing Crimson Wave possession, CCSJ fumbled on a bad snap. The ball found its way into the end zone, recovered by the home team, making it a Bellarmine safety. 

The CCSJ defense would respond to the unfortunate play by the offense, holding the Knights to a quick three-and-out in less than a minute and 15 seconds. The Crimson Wave would later make their way into the Bellarmine territory, all the way down to the Knights 3-yard line, the following possession. After a personal foul and holding penalty pushed them back 25 yards, the Wave were unable to score.

At the end of the first quarter, the Crimson Wave had another mishap in the backfield, this time fumbling the ball into the hands of a Bellarmine player. On the first play of the drive, the Knights completed a 25-yard touchdown to take an 8-0 lead into the second quarter. 

On its initial two possessions of the second quarter, the Wave committed two more turnovers, its third fumble of the game and an interception. The CCSJ defense continued to stand strong after the offense's misfortunes, only allowing 30 yards in nine plays.

Late in the second quarter, CCSJ was on the right end of a fumble, as Tony Madrueno was able to recover a bad snap by the Bellarmine offense. In three quick plays, Nino Barbosa was able to connect with Zaire Davis as he raced down field for a 56-yard touchdown, giving the Crimson Wave its first points of the game.

Just like the first quarter, Bellarmine quarterback Kyle Horvath was able to throw another touchdown in the closing moments, to give the Knights a 15-7 lead heading into halftime.

The CCSJ offense made a change behind center coming out of halftime, giving Destry Peoples his first opportunity to command the offense this season. The Wave's offense punted on all three of its possessions in the third quarter, but the defense held Bellarmine to only a field goal, making the score 18-7 heading into the fourth.

To start the fourth quarter, Destry Peoples, along with running backs Zaire Davis and Jamall Warnell lead a nine play, 80-yard drive down the field to cut the lead down to three. Peoples connected with Stevie Salman on the touchdown and completed the 2-pt conversion to Dontaye Hamilton.

The defense continued to hold, forcing two punts and a timely sack by Josh Tejeda on fourth down that kept the Knights away from field goal range.

On the final drive of regulation, Peoples connected with Dontaye Hamilton again for 45 yards. Add on an additional 15 yards for the horse collar tackle at the end of the play and the Crimson Wave were in position to tie the game. 

Jeau Vinatieri lined up a 35-yard field goal with less than a minute remaining to send the game into overtime. The crowd was electric, and the Wave seemed to have all the momentum.

The Knights would win the coin toss and decided to defer, giving the ball to CCSJ who had finally found some rhythm on offense. Starting from the 25-yard line, the Wave chipped away as Warnell rushed for 19 yards. Davis would tack on five more yards before Barbosa was able to squeeze into the end zone on fourth and goal to give the Crimson Wave its first lead of the night.

On Bellarmine's final drive to either win or tie, the CCSJ defense did what's its done all season long. The Knights could not complete a first down in its final possession and Keyshawn McGill broke up the final play of the game that would have kept the Bellarmine drive alive.

Crimson Wave Leaders

Quarterback Nino Barbosa went 4-of-8 for 85 yards passing with one touchdown and one interception. Barbosa also rushed for the go-ahead touchdown to the seal the win in overtime. Destry Peoples went 5-of-14 for 69 yards passing and a touchdown in the second half and overtime.

Zaire Davis had two receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown while Stevie Salman had three receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown. Dontaye Hamilton had one catch for 45 yards and Tre Simmons had two catches for 14 yards.

Jamall Warnell had 12 carries for 120 yards, while Davis had 15 carries for 38 yards.

Defensively, Jared Cuevas Cottrell had 10 total tackles, two of which were for a loss of 18 yards. He also recorded his first interception of the season.

Josh Tejeda had seven tackles, six of them solo, along with a sack. Alexander Dellachaie and Trevor Busse had seven tackles a piece, Daymon Johnson had six tackles and Tony Madrueno had five tackles and a sack.

Up Next

The Crimson Wave will travel to Oakland City, Indiana to take on the Mighty Oaks on Saturday, October 12 at 1:00 p.m. CT.

CCSJ shut out Oakland City 21-0 at Wood Memorial High School, last year on Saturday, October 7, 2023.