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Moments after Concordia Prep’s victory over Archbishop Curley Friday afternoon, the song “Taking Care of Business,” was played over the public address system.
The song was fitting for the No. 8 Saints, who posted a 38-18 victory over the Friars in a MIAA B Conference football contest in Towson. Senior quarterback Jordan Brooks threw three touchdown passes for Concordia, and Jaedon Austin rushed for 108 yards and two scores.
The reigning MIAA B champ Saints (5-1 overall, 2-0 MIAA B) separated from Curley in the second half to maintain a share of first with No. 9 St. Mary’s (2-0 MIAA B), a 27-7 victor over Boys’ Latin, in Annapolis Friday evening.
Concordia has won five straight since an overtime loss at Gilman in the season opener.
“We’re really young in spots, so it takes time to mature,” said Saints coach Joe Battaglia. “We’re learning how to work together and figuring out who we are offensively and defensively.”
Concordia’s defense held Curley, which posted nearly 400 rushing yards in last week’s win over Boys’ Latin, to 87 (170 total) Friday.
“The coaches make adjustments at halftime and you make adjustments,” said Saints sophomore linebacker Sidney Stewart. “You get a feel of what they’re doing and, eventually, you stop them.”
Stewart, son of former Coppin State basketball star Stephen Stewart, stripped the ball from Curley back Caron Madison, and Cam Allen-Jones recovered. Four plays later, on fourth down, Jaylin Harcum came down with a Brooks pass for a 21-yard touchdown, helping Concordia extend its lead to 24-10.
The Saints upped it to 32-10 early in the fourth as Brooks (nine-of-15, 159 yards) connected with Josh Derry for a 17-yard touchdown. Derry, a senior committed to Fairfield University, opened the match with a 48-yard kickoff return, leading to Alston’s two-yard touchdown run.
“Our guys came ready to play,” said Derry, who had three receptions for 64 yards and two touchdowns. “It was a game we’ve been waiting for.”
Derry, arguably the Saints’ most dynamic player, had a 20-yard fourth down reception on the opening drive. Following a fourth down stop by the Concordia defense, Derry easily beat a defender to haul in Brooks’ pass for a 27-yard score and a 16-0 advantage less than eight minutes into the game.
Curley (2-2, 1-1 MIAA B) fought back, getting a 16-yard scoring pass from Logan Nordeck to junior Nick Doty late in the first quarter. The Friars recovered a fumble inside Concordia’s 10 with 36 seconds left, and had to settle for Chris Pond’s 26-yard field goal to end the first half.
The Friars opened the second half with the ball, but fumbled two plays in and Concordia converted the turnover into a touchdown.
“We left some plays out there I know that we’re better at doing, but take nothing away from Concordia, they did a really good job,” said Curley coach Brendan Ireton. “We hoped to get something going on the first drive (of the second half) and it didn’t work out. That was a backbreaker.”
The Friars host St. Paul’s in MIAA B play this Friday. Concordia travels to John Carroll Friday followed with a trip to Annapolis to play St. Mary’s at Pascal Field Oct. 14.
“On any given day, any team can beat you, and you can beat yourself at anytime,” said Battaglia. “We’re constantly reiterating that and talking about us and how we do it and not necessarily who you’re going up against.”
No. 8 Concordia Prep 38, Curley 18
Curley 7 3 0 8 - 18
Concordia 16 0 8 14 - 38
First quarter
Concordia - Jaedon Alston 2 run (Sidney Stewart pass from Keshawn Mister)
Concordia - Josh Derry 27 pass from Jordan Brooks (Justin Harvey run)
Curley - Nick Doty 16 pass from Logan Nordeck (Chris Pond kick)
Second quarter
Curley - Pond 26 field goal
Third quarter
Concordia - Jaylin Harcum 21 pass from Brooks (Destin Mitchell pass from Brooks)
Fourth quarter
Concordia - Derry 17 pass from Brooks (Mister run)
Curley - Nordeck 1 run (Gavin Albright pass from Cole Floyd)
Concordia - Alston 11 run (kick failed)
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