The Irish Roundup

Here’s a rundown of how Notre Dame’s current group of 19 committed high school seniors, as well as their primary recruiting targets, fared in their football games this past weekend. (Note that I’m no longer tracing the stats for Frostproof (Fl.) tailback Carlton Thomas, who committed to Georgia this past weekend.)

Commits:

• David Posluszny’s Hopewell (Pa.) team suffered their second straight tough loss, a 27-0 shutout at the hands of Chartiers Valley, to drop to 3-2 on the season.
• Sean Cwynar’s Marian Central (Ill.) team blew out Aurora Central by a score of 52-7, to move to 6-0 on the season.
• Brandon Newman’s Pleasure Ridge Park (Ky.) team moved to 3-3 on the season with a 41-6 victory over Seneca.
• Hafis Williams’s Elizabeth (N.J.) team fell to 2-1 on the season with a 36-3 blowout loss to Irvington.
• Joseph Fauria’s Crespi (Calif.) team upset national power St. Bonaventure, 25-9, to move their record to 3-1.
• Braxston Cave’s Penn (Ind.) team held off host Mishawaka, 20-13, to move to 7-0 on the season.
• John Goodman threw for two touchdowns, one for 58 yards, as his Bishop Dwenger (Ind.) team defeated South Side, 35-5, to move to 7-0 on the season.
• Mike Golic Jr.’s Northwest Catholic (Conn.) team defeated St. Paul’s, 42-7. They now have a 2-1 record.
• Lane Clelland’s McDonogh School (Md.) team defeated Landon, 35-6, to move to 2-2 on the season.
• Dayne Crist was 20-of-30 passing for 313 yards (or 20-of-31 for 311, depending on whom you believe) and three touchdowns, including a game-winning 5-yard TD pass with five seconds left on the clock, as his and fellow commit Anthony McDonald’s Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (Calif.) team defeated Saugus, 38-35, to move to 3-1 on the season. Crist also scored a rushing touchdown from seven yards out.
• Ethan Johnson reportedly sat out yet again with an injured leg, but his Lincoln (Ore.) team still defeated North Medford, 34-21.
• Robert Blanton had his fifth interception of the year as well as an 18-yard touchdown reception as his Butler (N.C.) team blew out Providence, 62-6. They now stand at 5-1 on the season.
• Jaromis Slaughter’s Tucker (Ga.) team was slowed down a bit for the first time this year, but they still defeated Southwest Dekalb 21-0, to move their record on the year to 5-0.
• Darius Fleming’s St. Rita’s (Ill.) team suffered a disappointing 28-17 upset to Loyola, as they fell to 4-2 on the season. Loyola QB Peter Badovinac threw 40 times for 312 yards and three touchdowns as Loyola ran out of a no-huddle offense for most of the game.
• Steve Filer’s Mount Carmel (Ill.) team struggled against De La Salle, but drove for a 26-yard field goal with four seconds left to escape with a 38-35 win. They are now 6-0 on the season.
• Kyle Rudolph’s Elder (Ohio) team was shut out for the first time in nearly a decade as they fell to unbeaten St. Xavier, 18-0. Rudolph was limited to one twelve-yard catch and had to punt the ball nine times.
• Dan McCarthy’s Cardinal Mooney (Ohio) team ran their season record to 6-0 with a 21-0 shutout of St. Francis.
• Omar Hunter’s Buford (Ga.) team blew out Greater Atlanta Christian, 42-7, to run their season record to 5-0 and their overall winning streak to 43 games.

Recruits:

• Michael Floyd’s Cretin-Derham Hall (Minn.) team defeated Roseville, 49-7. Their record currently stands at 5-0.
• Kenneth Page’s A.C. Flora (Ga.) team lost to Elgin, 21-6.
• Jonathan Baldwin scored two touchdowns - one on a 24-yard reception, the other a 45-yard interception return - as his Aliquippa (Pa.) team defeated Ellwood City, 47-0, to move to 4-1 on the season.
• Trevor Robinson’s Elkhorn (Neb.) team defeated Roncalli Catholic, 41-7, to move to 5-0 on the season.
• Ryan Williams’s Stonewall Jackson (Va.) team lost to Battlefield, 24-21, to fall to 3-1 on the year.
• Cyrus Gray’s DeSoto (Tex.) team had a big 33-14 win against Paola, to bring their record to 4-1 on the year.
• And Chris Harper was held in check, with only 27 yards on seven rushes and 7-of-18 passing for 76 yards and an interception, as his Wichita Northwest (Kans.) team lost to Wichita Heighs, 10-7.

Here’s a rundown of how ND’s current commitments and primary recruits did in their high school football games this past weekend.

Commits:

• In a game that was televised nationally on ESPN2, Dayne Crist was 20-of-36 passing for 250 yards and a 27-yard TD pass, but it wasn’t enough as his and fellow commit Anthony McDonald’s Notre Dame Sherman Oaks (Calif.) team was upset by Birmingham, 28-21. Notre Dame was missing two of their starting offensive linemen, and so Crist spent much of his day on the run.
• Ethan Johnson sat on the bench for the second straight week but his Lincoln (Ore.) team still managed to defeat Tualitin, 38-14. The results of an MRI exam performed last week on Johnson’s injured knee are still unknown, at least to the media. [UPDATE: Johnson's knee injury is reportedly not very serious; he is improving week by week and it is not expected to have any long-term ramifications.]
• Robert Blanton, who had four interceptions through his team’s first four games, and his Butler (N.C.) team recovered from a disappointing loss last week and blew out Ardrey Kell, 49-7.
• Jamoris Slaughter and his Tucker (Ga.) team shut out the explosive St. Pius offense and rolled to victory, 35-0.
• Fresh off a disappointing loss to intracity rival Mount Carmel, Darius Fleming and his St. Rita’s (Ill.) team came up strong, defeating Providence by a score of 21-17.
• Meanwhile, Steve Filer and his Mount Carmel team defeated Brother Rice, 28-15.
• Kyle Rudolph’s Elder (Ohio) team suffered their second straight disappointing loss, falling to Lakewood St. Edward, 10-7.
• Dan McCarthy threw as many interceptions - two - as completed passes, but he picked off a pass of his own and rushed for 214 yards on 17 carries including TD runs of 54 and 84 yards as his Cardinal Mooney (Ohio) team defeated Lake Catholic, 40-14.
• David Posluszny’s Hopewell (Penn.) team suffered their first loss of the season, a 31-15 defeat by underdog Blackwell.
• Sean Cwynar and his Marian Central (Ill.) team shut out St. Edward, 30-0.
• Brandon Newman’s Pleasure Ridge Park (Ky.) team blew out Butler, 65-14.
• Hafis Williams’s Elizabeth (N.J.) team shut out Union, 20-0.
• John Goodman scored on a seven-yard run and also threw a 48-yard TD pass as his Bishop Dwenger (Ind.) team blew out Wayne by a score of 40-8.
• Braxston Cave’s Penn (Ind.) team stayed undefeated, blowing out Riley 42-8 to move to 6-0 on the season.
• Mike Golic Jr.’s Northwest Catholic (Conn.) team defeated Enfield 20-7, to move to 1-1 on the season.
• Omar Hunter’s Buford (Ga.) team blew out Wesleyan, 49-6.
• And on Sunday, in their second straight game against a tough out-of-state opponent, Lane Clelland’s McDonogh School (Md.) team lost to Malvern Prep, 46-7.
• Finally, Joseph Fauria’s Crespi team was idle this week.

Recruits:

• Carlton Thomas rushed for 237 yards and three touchdowns as his Frostproof (Fla.) team improved to 3-1, defeating Sebring by a score of 35-0.
• Kenneth Page’s A.C. Flora (Ga.) team held off an upset to defeat Praylow, 27-20.
• Michael Floyd rushed for 106 yards and an 11-yard TD run, caught three passes for 25 yards including a 14-yard TD, and also returned punts and saw playing time at cornerback as his Cretin-Derham Hall (Minn.) team defeated Stillwater, 42-14.
• Jonathan Baldwin faced double coverage most of the night and was held to three catches for 17 yards, but his Aliquippa (Penn.) team still managed to rally in the second half and defeated Beaver Falls, 33-27, to move to 3-0 on the year.
• Trevor Robinson’s Elkhorn (Neb.) team defeated Plattsmouth, 30-13.
• Cyrus Gray’s DeSoto (Tx.) team was blown out by Louisburg, 56-19.
• Ryan Williams’s Stonewall Jackson (Va.) team defeated Freedom-Woodbridge, 28-14.
• And Chris Harper rushed eight times for 20 yards and a touchdown, was 3-of-6 passing for 37 yards, and returned an interception 32 yards for a score as his Wichita Northwest (Kans.) team defeated Wichita South, 50-10.

That’s all for now! We’ll be back next week with more.

Here’s a rundown of how our currently committed players and primary recruiting targets for the current year fared in their games this past weekend.

Commits:

• In the biggest Chicago-area game this week, Steve Filer returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown as his Mount Carmel (Ill.) team defeated Darius Fleming’s No. 1 St. Rita’s team, which had recently been ranked #10 in the nation by SI and #2 in the Midwest by Rivals, 35-19. Fleming had seven tackles for St. Rita’s.
• David Posluszny (pictured here) had nine carries for 57 yards and a 2-yard TD score, as well as a key 13-yard sack to end a potential scoring drive, as his Hopewell (Pa.) team blew past Ambridge, 32-7.
• Sean Cwynar headed what was described as a “stellar defensive effort” by his Marian Central (Ill.) team - who suited up only 23 players - as they defeated Marmion, 35-0.
• Brandon Newman’s Pleasure Ridge Park (Ky.) team came up short on a last-minute comeback and fell to Eastern, 26-21, to drop to 1-3 on the season.
• Jamoris Slaughter’s Tucker (Ga.) team blew out Lakeside-Dekalb, 62-0.
• Hafis Williams’s Elizabeth (N.J.) team, which had been ranked #3 in the state, lost to Hudson Catholic, 14-7.
• Lane Clelland’s McDonogh (Md.) team came up short on their final drive and lost to Penn Charter, 3-0.
• Joseph Fauria had a key 26-yard reception on fourth down and also caught an eight yard touchdown pass, but his Crespi (Ca.) team came up short against Centennial, 41-20, who had been ranked #4 in the nation by MaxPreps.
• John Goodman returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, and his Bishop Dwenger (Ind.) team never looked back, defeating Elmhurst 52-14.
• Dan McCarthy was five of six passing for 116 yards and a 24-yard touchdown, and scored two more TD’s of his own, including a 13-yard run and as 70-yard punt return, as his Cardinal Mooney (Ohio) team, currently ranked #8 in the nation by MaxPreps, shut out Harding, 49-0.
• Dayne Crist threw for 225 yards and two scores and ran another in himself from 23 yards as his - and fellow commit Anthony McDonald’s - Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (Ca.) team defeated Lynwood, 35-13.
• Braxston Cave’s Penn (Ind.) team defeated St. Joseph’s, 28-13.
• Kyle Rudolph caught touchdown passes of 10 and 13 yards but it wasn’t enough, as his Elder (Ohio) team was upset by La Salle, 28-19.
• Omar Hunter helped his Buford (Ga.) team hold Avondale to 28 yards rushing on 29 carries in a 63-6 blowout victory.
• Ethan Johnson sat out with a leg injury as his Lincoln (Ore.) team turned the ball over seven times and was held to minus-4 yards rushing in a 28-7 loss to Southridge.
• Robert Blanton’s Butler (Ga.) team fell to 0-3 as they lost to Burke County, 36-0.
• Mike Golic, Jr.’s Northwest Catholic (Conn.) team lost their season opener, 27-21 to New London.

Recruits:

• Carlton Thomas rushed for 142 yards on 21 carries, with touchdown runs of three and 34 yards, as his Frostproof team defeated Mulberry, 26-0, to improve to 2-1 on the season.
• Kenneth Page’s A.C. Flora (Ga.) team lost to Chester, 8-0.
• Michael Floyd’s Cretin-Derham Hall (Minn.) team defeated Woodbury, 42-13.
• Jonathan Baldwin caught a six-yard TD pass and also scored on a two-point conversion as his Aliquippa (Pa.) team shut out Freedom, 26-0.
• Trevor Robinson’s Elkhorn (Neb.) team blew out York, 54-7.
• Cyrus Gray’s DeSoto (Tx.) team moved to its third consecutive 3-0 start as they defeated Anderson County, 48-20.
• Ryan Williams’s Stonewall Jackson (Va.) team defeated Forest Park, 27-6.

Want to learn and talk more about Irish recruiting, our our currently committed players? Want to discuss this article and others? Head over to IrishEnvy.com …

Here’s a rundown of how those of our committed players and primary recruits for the ‘08 class whose games I didn’t cover yesterday fared this week:

• On Saturday, commit Jamoris Slaughter’s Tucker team had a huge, 30-0 win against rival Marist.
• Also on Saturday, commit Hafis Williams’s Elizabeth team defeated Plainfield, 20-13.
• And once again on Saturday, commit Lane Clelland’s McDonogh School team defeated Archbishop Curley, 28-14.
• And on Friday, commit Joseph Fauria caught two touchdowns as his Crespi team defeated Kennedy, 48-0.
• Finally, the one major recruit I forgot about yesterday was Kenneth Page, whose A.C. Flora team defeated Mid-Carolina, 10-7.