Crist & McDonald playing on ESPN2

[jonesman]

They are playing live on ESPN2. Dayne looks really BIG. He has a cannon for an arm. Jimmy will have competition for sure with this kid.

 

[IrishRamMan10]

u beat me to it.....hhaha

 

[KamaraPolice]

Yeah, McDonald was playing right tackle too.

 

[goldandblue]

Was a pretty good game I only watched the first half and it was 14-0 birmingham then. Crist looked tuff. He ran quite a few guys over. They had a few interviews with him talking about coming to N.D. He's excited and can't wait.

 

[GoIrish41]

McDonald is a beast. On one play in the first quarter, the opposing WR caught one in the seam and took off down the center of the field and McDonald ran him down from behind. He also appears to be very good at shedding blocks and attacking the ball on running plays.

 

[GoshenGipper]

I watched most of the 2nd qtr, and some of the 3rd. At which point I fell asleep. Does anyone know how the rest of the game trned out?

 

[goldandblue]

28-21 Birmingham. Don't have any stats though.

 

[johnnd05]

Crist was 20 of 36 for 250 yards and a touchdown.

City slickers: Birmingham defeats Notre Dame

BY GERRY GITTELSON, Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 09/21/2007 01:21:46 AM PDT

Football supremacy among San Fernando Valley high schools has shifted to City Section power Birmingham of Lake Balboa, as the Patriots claimed a milestone 28-21 victory Thursday night over visiting Notre Dame, the Daily News' No. 1 team, in front of a national television audience.

After five losses in five years to Notre Dame, Birmingham finally is over the hump.

But this was no fluke. Two weeks ago, Birmingham (3-1) knocked off national power Long Beach Poly, and it's now clear the two-time City champion Patriots don't fade against supposedly stronger Southern Section competition.

Other City programs still might not be able to keep pace against elite Southern Section opponents, but Birmingham stands proud.

Milton Knox carried Birmingham on his back. He rushed for 137 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries. De'Von Flournoy added a 90-yard touchdown on a kick return.

"We didn't just beat a good opponent. Notre Dame is a great opponent," Knox said. "For us to come and take this win is real big for us."

The Patriots also played tight defense, forcing Notre Dame (2-1) out of its conservative game plan.

Birmingham also stopped Notre Dame inside its own 10-yard line late in the fourth quarter to keep the score 28-14.

Notre Dame eventually scored to pull within a touchdown, but couldn't recover an onside kick with two minutes left.

Knox converted a fourth-and-short with just more than a minute left to put the game away.

Knights quarterback Dayne Crist attempted 36 passes, competing 20 for 250yards and a touchdown, but it wasn't enough.

Led by linebackers Donovan Carter and T.J. Rosas, Birmingham limited Notre Dame to just 104 yards and four first downs in the first half while taking a 14-0 lead.

"We just wanted to show everyone that we're a team to be reckoned with," Rosas said.

"Our defense came out tonight to prove we're the No. 1 defense in the state."

The Knights managed to penetrate Birmingham's 50 just once, as Crist completed one of his last six passes heading into the break.

Birmingham relied heavily on Knox. The UCLA-bound senior rushed for 75 yards on 17 first-half carries, scoring on runs of 1 and 16yards to stake a 14-0 lead.

The first touchdown covered 88yards in 15 plays, as Knox keyed the series with 37yards on 10 carries, capped by a 1-yard plunge.

Three series later, Birmingham drove 45yards on five plays. Knox dragged several tacklers into the end zone on a 16-yard touchdown run. The touchdown was set up by Morey Croson's 25-yard pass to Kyle Lard.

Croson completed 6 of 20 passes for 106yards.

Notre Dame's Jeff Dickmann totaled 10receptions for 115 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown.

Notre Dame's Thaddeus Brown scored on a 1-yard run with just over two minutes remaining to make it 28-21.

An ensuing onside kick was recovered by Birmingham after a wild scrum, then Knox carried four times to run out the clock.

"We were able to keep coming back and keep fighting tonight," Carter said. "For us, it was all about finishing."

I think McDonald is the one in pursuit in this photo:

CORRECTION: No, it isn't. McDonald wears #54, not 45.

 

[IrishRamMan10]

i dvred it so ill prolly watch it tongight

 

[johnnd05]

Here's another article, which I think is a bit better. One thing it notes is that ND Sherman Oaks was missing two of their top offensive linemen due to injury, so Crist spent much of the day running.

Birmingham stops Notre Dame

September 21, 2007

City Section Rules! Those signs could be going up around the campus of Lake Balboa Birmingham after the Patriots left another Southern Section football power beaten on Thursday night, inflicting a 28-21 defeat on Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, ranked third in the Southland by The Times.

It was the first regular-season loss for Notre Dame (2-1) since 2003 and came only two weeks after Birmingham defeated 16-time Southern Section champion Long Beach Poly in a game some thought was a fluke.

But 11th-ranked Birmingham (3-1), the defending City Section champion, showed a national television audience watching on ESPN2 that its defense doesn't back down from anybody, including Notre Dame-bound quarterback Dayne Crist, who spent much of the night trying to avoid being tackled by linebacker Donovan Carter and defensive end Malik Jackson.

UCLA-bound running back Milton Knox of Birmingham rushed for 136 yards in 32 carries and scored three touchdowns. Crist completed 21 of 38 passes for 258 yards and one touchdown.

Birmingham had been winless in five games against Notre Dame since Ed Croson took over as coach this decade, but Notre Dame Coach Kevin Rooney warned before the game, "Definitely, it's their best team. They're excellent on defense and have weapons on offense."

Birmingham's victory has state bowl implications. The Patriots have put themselves in position to be a strong contender for the Division I bowl game in December at the Home Depot Center. All it appears it will take is for them to win out, and that's very possible.

They face Los Angeles Dorsey next week, then have little opposition in the West Valley League before the City playoffs begin. Their resume of facing tough opponents in nonleague games gives them a real shot to earn a berth, especially if they can add their fourth City title since 2002.

After being held scoreless in the first half, Notre Dame got its offense going in the third quarter. Crist started having success through the air. He connected on a 27-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Dickmann on Notre Dame's opening drive of the third quarter, cutting Birmingham's lead to 14-7.

But Birmingham receiver De'Von Flournoy returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown.

Crist came right back to guide Notre Dame on a 70-yard drive, connecting on passes of 24 and 25 yards before Thaddeus Brown scored on a six-yard run.

Knox scored on a four-yard run with 39 seconds left in the third quarter to put Birmingham on top, 28-14.

Notre Dame put together a 16-play drive in the fourth quarter, moving to the Birmingham five-yard line. But on fourth and goal with 7:09 left, Crist's pass fell incomplete.

Notre Dame reached the Birmingham 20 with 3 1/2 minutes left when Crist lofted a desperation pass on fourth down to Dickmann, who battled two defenders to make the catch at the two-yard line. Three plays later, Brown scored from the one with 2:10 left, cutting the lead to 28-21.

Birmingham recovered the onside kick and tried to run out the clock. On fourth and one from Notre Dame's 40, Knox plowed ahead for a six-yard gain, clinching the Patriots' victory.

"It was a big win," Knox said. "Nobody thought we'd beat two of the top teams in the state in the same season."

The first half, in which Birmingham came away with a 14-0 lead, was all about the Patriots dominating on defense. In Notre Dame's five offensive possessions, the Knights picked up only four first downs. They struggled in short-yardage situations, and Crist was repeatedly driven out of the pocket by Jackson and Carter.

Birmingham put together an 88-yard, 15-play drive in the first quarter, with Knox scoring from the one. The biggest play of the first half was Kyle Lard's 20-yard reception from Morey Croson on fourth and sixth from the Notre Dame 41. On the next play, Knox ran 16 yards for a touchdown.

Knox rushed for 79 yards in 17 carries in the first half. Notre Dame's total offense was 88 yards in the first half. Crist completed his first six passes, then finished the half seven of 13 for 53 yards.

It was not surprising that the Knights' offense had trouble moving the ball because their line is missing two of its best blockers.

Two-way starter Eric Jusko is sidelined with a thumb injury until late October, and the Knights lost another two-way starter, Larry Thompson, on Monday for four weeks when it was discovered he chipped a bone in his elbow against Lynwood.

 

[stevens04]

I watched the first half as well... Crist does look pretty tough although he was bigger then most of the defenders he was running at. He will definitley have to change that style in college. He throws a nice ball. I saw one hit by McDonald which was impressive. The runner went down immediately.

 

[laxkid23]

Crist was 20 of 36 for 250 yards and a touchdown.



I think McDonald is the one in pursuit in this photo:

I don't think that is McDonald. McDonald wears number 54, I think that is 45. But yeah, hes a beast.

 

[johnnd05]

I don't think that is McDonald. McDonald wears number 54, I think that is 45. But yeah, hes a beast.

Yep - you're right. I remember picking him out in a pic once before, but this time the numbers must've just switched in my head. Thanks.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I fell asleep and missed the game. I'm so mad at myself.