Brother Martin holds off Rummel, 21-16

METAIRIE – One week ago, the Brother Martin offense was the story of the night. This week, it was the defense’s turn to take the spotlight with the game on the line.

The Crusaders stood tall with their backs to their own goal line, pushing back the surging Rummel Raiders to hang on for a 21-16 victory Friday night at Joe Yenni Stadium.

Brother Martin (6-2, 3-1) appeared to be in control of the game with a 21-9 lead, burning over five minutes off the clock before punting with 5:08 to play.

However, Rummel has proven to be resilient often this season. The Raiders quickly marched down the field on their best offensive drive of the night. After moving into the red zone, junior quarterback Generald Buggage connected with senior running back Jaidyn Martin near the sideline on a short pass, and Martin spun away from a defender and broke free for a 17-yard touchdown, pulling Rummel within five at 21-16 with 1:56 left.

Rummel (4-4, 2-2) recovered the ensuing on-side kick at the Brother Martin 49-yard line, setting up the opportunity for a potential game-winning touchdown.

On the first play after the on-side kick recovery, Buggage launched a deep pass to sophomore wide receiver Earnest Richardson on the far side of the field for a 44-yard reception, setting the Raiders up with first and goal at the Crusader 5.

Two plays later, Buggage kept the ball and rushed to the Crusaders 2-yard line, but a holding penalty set the Raiders back to the 15-yard line. A false start penalty and a six-yard sack followed, setting up a daunting fourth and goal at the Brother Martin 23. Buggage evaded multiple rushers to avoid the sack, rolled out to his right and fired the ball toward the end zone, but the ball fell incomplete out of bounds.

“We never seem to make things easy,” said Brother Martin head coach Mark Bonis. “Nobody thought our defense could make that stand at the 5-yard line, but these kids stepped up and played tough.”

A week after Brother Martin imposed its will in dominating fashion in the trenches to defeat Holy Cross, the Crusaders seemed to be in for a smooth night, scoring on their first two possessions of the game.

Junior quarterback Seth Dazet found sophomore wide receiver Rex LeBlanc wide open behind the Rummel secondary for a 51-yard touchdown pass to give Brother Martin a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the contest.

A more familiar looking Brother Martin scoring march this season, in this case a 13-play drive, came on the next possession. A one-yard touchdown run by senior running back Jordan West made it 14-0 with 1:39 to play in the first quarter.

A bad snap in punt formation set up Rummel with its best starting field position of the night at the Brother Martin 26. One play later, Martin broke loose on a 26-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 14-6 with 4:09 to play in the first half.

Rummel (4-4) cashed in again on the next drive, also set up by a Brother Martin miscue. The recovery of a West fumble gavee the Raiders the ball in Crusader territory once again. Four plays later, senior kicker Christopher Wallace’s 41-yard field goal narrowed the deficit to 14-9 heading into halftime.

Though the Rummel defense held firm most of the night, forcing a pair of turnovers, the Crusaders managed to hit another big play late in the third quarter to create some breathing room. Facing third and long from the 9-yard line, Dazet hit freshman Easton Royal for a 91-yard touchdown pass, bringing the score to 21-9 Brother Martin at the 3:46 mark.

Dazet completed 14 of 18 passes for 227 yards with two touchdowns.

The Raiders weren’t certain entering the game if either Buggage or Martin would suit up against the Crusaders due to injuries suffered last week. However, both players made a big impact.

Buggage finished 15 of 19 passing for 158 yards, along with four rushes for 18 yards. Martin, who did not practice all week, looked unfazed and recorded 12 rushes for 47 yards with a touchdown. He added six receptions for 36 yards and another score.

For the Crusaders, West grinded out 17 carries for 74 yards and a touchdown.

Brother Martin, winners of three straight, will try to keep the positive momentum rolling next week when it faces John Curtis in a rematch of the 2022 Division I Select state championship game at the Shrine on Airline Friday night.

Things don’t get any easier for battered and valiant Rummel next week when undefeated Edna Karr awaits Friday night at Strawberry Stadium in Hammond.