Banged up Rummel guts out win over St. Augustine, 21-14

METAIRIE – It was the quintessential definition of a tale of two halves.

For one half, the Archbishop Rummel offense was dominant.

In the second half, the Raiders, already besieged by injuries, lost more key players.

It became a matter of survival and the Raiders survived, thanks to determination and a defense that refused to lose.

The Raiders defense forced three turnovers and held St. Augustine scoreless in the fourth quarter in a 21-14 victory at Joe Yenni Stadium Saturday night in a District 9-5A contest on Homecoming night for the Raiders.

Rummel got stops on the final four possessions of the game of the Purple Knights to hold on for the win.

After amassing 257 yards, 14 first downs and 21 points in the first half, the Raiders netted negative team yards with penalties included, one first down and went scoreless in the second half as a result of key injuries, bad center snaps and an aggressive St. Augustine defense which flipped the script from the first half.

The Raiders, already without seven players who were starters, lost second quarter Generald Buggage for a few series. He did return but his arm and shoulder injury did not allow him to throw the ball or do much.

Then, Rummel lost star running back Jaidyn Martin early in the second half with a knee problem.

Martin was fabulous in the first half, rushing 17 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns and catching two passes for 31 yards.

Buggage was 10-of-11 for 125 yards in the first half with an interception before he was banged up. He previously split time at quarterback with Evan Burg but Burg went down for the season with a torn labrum in a loss to Holy Cross earlier this year.

The Raiders were also without two key linemen, and three defensive backs but showed resiliency in finding a way to gut out a win.

The Purple Knights started quickly, taking the opening kickoff, driving 78 yards in seven plays, taking just 2:56 off the clock with Dawson Simmons extending a play and hitting a wide-open Miguel Whitley on a 25-yard touchdown pass to give the Purple Knights a 7-0 lead.

The Raiders answered on their first possession, driving 66 yards in six plays with Ruben Ramirez scoring on a 5-yard run to make it 7-7 with 6:18 to play in the first quarter. Buggage connected with Ramirez on a 45-yard pass to set up the score.

After Norman Taylor intercepted a pass, the Raiders drove 58 yards in eight plays, taking 4:15 off the clock with Martin scoring on a 14-yard run and it was 14-7 with 44 seconds to play in the first quarter.

Robert Vaughn Jr. then recovered a fumble for the Raiders to set Rummel up at the St. Augustine 20-yard-line but Christian Pritchett intercepted a Buggage pass in the end zone to end the threat.

The Raiders added to the lead midway through the second quarter, driving 59 yards in seven plays with Martin scoring on a 7-yard run and it was 21-7 with 6:06 to play in the half.

The game changed in the third quarter. St. Augustine turned up the defensive pressure, controlled the line-of-scrimmage and took advantage of several bad snaps from center a dropped snap to draw closer.

Buggage fumbled a snap and Jahkeem Stewart recovered at the St. Augustine 44-yard line.

The Purple Knights drove 56 yards in eight plays with Keith Hill scoring on a 2-yard run to cut the deficit to 21-14 with 5:06 to play in the third quarter. The big play of the drive was a 30-yard run by Simmons.

St. Augustine got stops and got into Rummel territory twice but did not threaten the rest of the way. Chance Joseph came up with a huge interception for the Raiders to set Rummel up with a chance to put the game away late but Chris Wallace missed a 30-yard field goal with 1:23 to play in the game.

With no timeouts remaining, St. Augustine reached its own 41-yard line but could advance no further as the Rummel defense stiffened again.

Buggage toughed it out, returning to the game and finished 12-of-14 for 144 yards with the interception and had 14 yards rushing on seven carries.

Ramirez finished with seven catches for 95 yards and the 5-yard touchdown run.

Raiders coach Nick Monica credited his team’s toughness.

“It was just a great win for us,” Monica said. “Our defense really stepped up and played extremely well when we needed them to. It was hard to get much done offensively in the second half with Generald having a shoulder problem and after Jaidyn went down. Our offense was good in the first half. We are finding ways to win against good competition.”

Simmons struggled, completing just 10-of-31 passes for 115 yards, though he rushed 10 times for 78 yards.

Taylor, who had to play both ways after the injury to Martin, ran for the only first down for the Raiders in the second half.

“I had to step up and help the team,” Taylor said. “We had some guys go out with injuries. It has been that way but we keep finding guys to play and win. We are getting better and believe we can win.”

Rummel (4-3, 2-1) won its third straight game.

The banged-up Raiders have a short week before hosting Brother Martin next Friday night at Joe Yenni Stadium.

The Purple Knights (2-5, 0-4) lost their fifth straight game, will face John Curtis Christian next Saturday afternoon.

FINAL
Rummel 14 7 0 0 — 21
St. Aug 7 0 7 0 — 14

Scoring:
1st Qtr.
St. Aug—Miguel Whitley, 25-yard pas from Dawson Simmons (Ferdinand Cettridge III kick)
Rummel—Ruben Ramirez, 5-yard run (Chris Wallace kick)
Rummel—Jaidyn Martin, 14-yard run (Chris Wallace kick)

2nd Qtr.
Rummel—Jaidyn Martin, 7-yard run (Chris Wallace kick)

3rd Qtr.
St. Aug—Keith Hill, 2-yard run (Ferdinand Cettridge III kick)

First Downs:
Rummel 15
St. Augustine 12

Rushing Yards:
Rummel 136
St. Aug 120

Passing Yards:
Rummel 144
St. Aug 115

Total Yards:
Rummel 280
St. Aug 235

Penalties:
Rummel 8 for 75 yards
St. Aug 10 for 95 yards

Sacks:
Rummel 1
St. Aug 0

Turnovers:
Rummel 2
St. Aug 3