REPLAY: Wickersham shines as Rummel rebounds with 56-33 win over Holy Cross

THIBODAUX – Coming off its first loss since 2018, Archbishop Rummel was motivated to avoid feeling that unusual feeling again Saturday.

Homecoming felt good, even though the Raiders had to celebrate it an hour down the road.

Richmond commit Kyle Wickersham threw four touchdown passes and rushed for a fifth score while Notre Dame commit Logan Diggs scored three times, one each rushing, receiving and on a kickoff return as the Raiders whipped Holy Cross 56-33 in a District 9-5A contest at John L. Guidry Stadium in a game seen live at CrescentCitySports.com and heard live at 106.1 FM.

The game was relocated to Nicholls on Friday, due to power issues at Joe Yenni Stadium in Metairie.

Holy Cross was committed, make that sold out to stopping Diggs.

The strategy worked from scrimmage, for the most part as Holy Cross held Diggs to just 18 yards on 12 carries.

The problem is that Diggs found a way to put the ball in the end zone three times, including a game-breaking kickoff return for a score that turned the tide of the game permanently.

The Raiders never trailed, getting off to a fast start and keeping the pedal to the metal throughout.

Rummel drove 68 yards in eight plays on the opening possession of the game with Wickersham connecting with Diggs on a 5-yard touchdown pass to give the Raiders a 7-0 lead with 9:33 to play in the opening quarter.

Holy Cross answered immediately, tying the score with a five play, 80-yard drive with John Dade Wooton connecting with Jalen Johnson on a 54-yard touchdown pass and it was 7-7 with 7:44 to play in the first quarter.

The Raiders took the lead, driving 68 yards in 10 plays with Wickersham hitting Tyler Cook on an 11-yard touchdown pass to give Rummel a 14-7 lead with 3:26 to play in the opening quarter.

The shootout continued as the Tigers evened the score once again, driving 80 yards in seven plays with Jaden Handy scoring on a 7-yard run to make it 14-14 with 50 seconds left in the quarter.

Then came the game-changing play.

Diggs fielded the ensuing kickoff and returned it 84 yards for a touchdown to give Rummel a 21-14 lead as the first quarter came to a close.

The Raiders then got the first stop of the game and it took the Rummel offense just one play to add to the lead as Wickersham hit Keith Robertson with a 65-yard touchdown pass to give Rummel a 28-14 lead with 10:51 to play in the half.

Rummel then hit the big play again as Wickersham hit Tyronne Hayes with a 65-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 35-14 with 7:56 to play in the half.

After a fumbled punt which Rummel came up with, Wickersham scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak to make it 42-14 with 44 seconds left in the half.

Holy Cross pulled closer just before the break as Wooton threw a screen pass to Johnson who outraced the defense 57 yards for a score and it was 42-20 at halftime after a missed extra point.

Rummel took the drama out any potential comeback by Holy Cross, scoring on its first possession of the second half as Diggs scored on a 7-yard touchdown run to make it 49-20 to complete a 6 play, 75-yard drive with 7:01 to play in the third quarter.

The Tigers then drove 64 yards in 11 plays with Handy scoring on a 1-yard run to cut the deficit to 49-27 with 2:46 to play in the third quarter.

The Raiders finished their scoring, driving 52 yards in eight plays with Daniel Sabido scoring on a 3-yard run to make it 56-27 with 10:45 to play in the game. Sabido rushed seven times for 40 yards on the drive.

Holy Cross wrapped up the scoring, driving 67 yards in 13 plays with Wooton throwing a 7-yard touchdown pass to Ian Silva.

Wickersham finished 14-of-19 for 306 yards with the four touchdown passes and he rushed four times for 20 yards and a touchdown. Hayes had three catches for 109 yards and a score. Cook finished with five catches for 101 yards and a score. Sabido had 14 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown.

Wooton completed 20-of-29 passes for 286 yards and three scores. Johnson was terrific with 10 catches for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Handy had 16 carries for 57 yards and two scores.

Rummel has won 20 of the last 21 games against Holy Cross.

The Raiders (3-1, 1-1) play St. Augustine next Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Tad Gormley Stadium in a game set to air live on 106.1 FM.

The Tigers (1-3, 0-2) will face another difficult test Friday against John Curtis Christian.

FINAL
RUM 21 21 7 7 — 56
HC 14 6 7 6 — 33

First Downs: RUM 17, HC 17
Penalties: RUM 2 for 29 yards, HC 4 for 47 yards
Turnovers: RUM 0, HC 1

Rushing Yards: RUM 127, HC 86
Passing Yards: RUM 301, HC 286
Total Yards: RUM 428, HC 372