By JOHN LIKANJE
BROCKPORT, N.Y. — Senior running back Mark Passero rushed for three touchdowns as the McQuaid Jesuit Knights dominated the Hilton Cadets, 40-0, in the Section V Class AA semifinal at Bob Boozer Field on the campus of SUNY Brockport, Saturday night. Two of Passero’s three touchdowns came on back-to-back drives in the second quarter to help McQuaid build a 33-0 halftime lead.
Passero 2nd rush TD. PAT good. @FootballMcquaid 21 @HiltonFootball 0. @PickinSplinters @SectionVFB pic.twitter.com/QdVSJhM7tM
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) October 28, 2018
Passero finished the game with 121 rushing yards on 19 carries and now has five rushing touchdowns in two sectional games for the Knights. Head coach Bobby Bates had nothing but praise for his featured running back.
“He’s a really smart kid. He works his tail off day in and day off and he’s just a resilient running back,” Coach Bates said in a postgame interview. “And if you ask Mark, he’s going to credit the O-line because he’s a very humble kid.”
Senior quarterback Hunter Walsh went 9-for-14 for 157 passing yards and two touchdowns-one rushing and one passing to senior tight end Connor Zamiara. Andrew Passero, Mark’s cousin, contributed eight carries for 97 yards.
#10 Hunter Walsh rush TD. PAT no good. @FootballMcquaid 6 @HiltonFootball 0. @PickinSplinters @SectionVFB pic.twitter.com/ckrVN24W0k
— John Mitchell Likanje Junior (@jml5798) October 28, 2018
McQuaid’s defense contributed to the rout as well as they forced Hilton to punt on four of their seven drives that they had throughout the game. Before halftime, sophomore defensive lineman Aldrin Wilson recovered a fumble and took it to the end zone on the Cadets’ second play of a drive that started at their 25-yard line. His fellow defensive lineman, senior Will Anderson, corralled in an interception after picking off a pass in the air that juggled in his hands for a few seconds.
For Hilton, senior running back Anthony Robertson carried the ball 16 times for 65 rushing yards.
McQuaid will play the Aquinas Institute L’il Irish in the Section V Class AA Final next Saturday, 7:00pm at SUNY Brockport. The Knights are trying to avenge a close loss to the L’il Irish on October 6th. Aquinas is the No. 1 seed in the field and dominated Pittsford earlier in their semifinal game, but Coach Bates is up to the challenge.
“That’s a really, really, tough team and a great program,” Coach Bates said about facing Aquinas. “We’re going to have our work cut out for us, but I’m glad that we’re doing it with these kids.”
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