In the mountains of Cumberland Mount St. Joseph’s 2009 football season started to unravel during a sloppy 22-12 loss to Fort Hill. The Gaels would fall to 2-2 at the point and went on to finish 2-8.
On Saturday, a new St. Joe team returned to western Maryland seeking redemption and they got it in the form of a 14-10 victory highlighted by a heroic 44-yard touchdown drive in the game’s final two-and-a-half minutes.
Quarterback Craig Costabile engineered the winning drive and capped it with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Angelo Deshields, with 1:21 to play.
The Gaels, who improved to 3-0, almost scored too fast. They left 1:21 on the clock, providing Fort Hill an opportunity to answer. But, the St. Joe defense came up with an interception which sealed the come-from-behind victory.
St. Joe overcame a 169-yard rushing effort from Fort Hill’s Shawn Metheny, who scored the Sentinals’ only touchdown on a 79-yard run, in the first quarter.
St. Joe struggled offensively most of the night, but did manage a 10-yard touchdown run from Jeff Matthews, in the second quarter, to even the game at seven. Fort Hill would move back in front with a field goal, prior to halftime, but the MSJ defense was beginning to make plays.
The Gaels shutout Fort Hill in the second half. They stopped the Sentinels on a fourth-and-inches snap at their own nine yard line, in the third quarter, and stopped a fourth and one in the fourth quarter, just prior to their own game winning drive.
St. Joe will return home next Saturday for a huge showdown with Calvert Hall, as both teams open their MIAA A Conference schedules.
