Rummel makes big plays late to hold off Brother Martin in Division I quarterfinals, 27-23

METAIRIE – It is perhaps the most familiar refrain in sports. Rematches are tough and no fun.

For the better part of four quarters Friday night at Joe Yenni Stadium, third-seeded Archbishop Rummel had no fun facing No. 6 Brother Martin for the second time in less than a month.

By game’s end, the Raiders were relieved, having escaped with a 27-23 victory over its Catholic League rival in an absolute thriller. Rummel had shutout Brother Martin 17-0 on Oct. 20 but this one would be quite different than the first meeting.

Junior Corey Smooth came up with a huge interception of freshman quarterback Garrett Mmahat in the final minute to stop one Crusader drive deep in Rummel territory before sophomore Kolbe Fields sacked Mmahat on the final play of the game to preserve the win.

Game-winning play@_ajrachal504 comes down with the 42-yard heave from @1chandlerfields to give @RummelFootball1 27-23 lead over @BMHSCrusaders with 1:14 left.@CO2SMOOTH then made the INT to cap off the playoff win. pic.twitter.com/d1f9VCuGYN

— Jordan Liuzza (@jordanliuzza) November 17, 2018

The Raiders overcame two first half turnovers and 10 penalties for 103 yards on a mistake-filled night.

“We made enough mistakes to lose and we were fortunate to win,” Rummel coach Jay Roth said. “You cannot turn the ball over and get so many penalties in an important game. We are happy to get out of here with a win. Chandler (Fields) made a big play on the touchdown throw to Amour Rachal and our defense came up with a couple of big plays with the interception by Corey Smooth and the sack by Kolbe Fields.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Brother Martin took the elead when Jack Landry nailed a 42-yard field goal to take at 3-0 lead with 8:02 to play in the second quarter to cap a 10 play, 42-yard drive.

Rummel needed just three plays to take its first lead of the game as UL-Lafayette commit Chandler Fields raced 54 yards for a score to give Rummel a 7-3 lead at the half.

Brother Martin struck quickly in the third quarter to recapture the lead as Mmahat, who was brilliant, connected with Brady Faust on a 69-yard touchdown pass to give the Crusaders a 10-7 lead just 39 seconds into the third quarter.

Right out of the break Garrett Mmahat hits Brady Faust for a 69-yard TD to take a 10-7 lead @ArchRUMMEL @BMHSCrusaders pic.twitter.com/MrcN8vsaeJ

— Jordan Liuzza (@jordanliuzza) November 17, 2018

The Crusaders added to the lead when Landry kicked a 37-yard field goal to make it 13-7 with four minutes to play in the third quarter, capping an eight play, 58-yard drive.

Rummel then pounded the Brother Martin defense with six consecutive runs covering 69 yards with Jaelen Sturgis scoring on a six-yard run to give Rummel a 14-13 lead with 1:04 to play in the third quarter, setting the stage for a wild fourth quarter.

Mmahat connected with a wide open Faust on a 50-yard touchdown pass to give the Crusaders a 20-14 lead with 7:23 to play in the game but the lead was short-lived.

On the next play from scrimmage, Fields found Jacob Renton on a 64-yard slant for a touchdown and the Raiders regained the lead 21-20 with 7:03 to play.

What a response by @1chandlerfields who hits Jacob Renton with a strike, and he takes it to the house.@ArchRUMMEL 21, @BMHSCrusaders 20 — 7:03 4Q pic.twitter.com/IYi0xorHTm

— Jordan Liuzza (@jordanliuzza) November 17, 2018

Brother Martin came right back, driving 64 yards in six plays with Landry connecting on a 28-yard field goal to give the Crusaders a 23-21 lead with 4:23 to play.

The Raiders then took over and drove 71 yards in six plays with Fields buying time and heaving one deep into the end zone and Amour Rachal came up with the ball on a 42-yard touchdown pass and it was 27-23 with 1:14 to play in the game.

Fields completed 6-of-12 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Renton had three catches for 86 yards and a score and Sturgis rushed 15 times for 89 yards and a touchdown as Rummel rushed for 262 yards.

“It was all about winning the fourth quarter and we were able to do so,” Fields said. “We overcame adversity as a team. I had great protection on the winning touchdown and I saw Amour behind the defender and just threw it as far as I could and he made a play for us.”

Brother Martin had two more chances. After a 66-yard kickoff return by Davonn Moore gave Brother Martin the ball at the Rummel 28-yard line, Mmahat made his only mistake of the game as he threw over the middle and was picked off by Smooth with 52 seconds left.

“I knew they were going to go to 88 (LJ Gilyot),” Smooth said. “I read the route and I broke on it and it was nice to make a play. I feel good about our team. We are looking forward to next week.”

It was not over yet.

Brother Martin got a stop, forced a punt and Mmahat hit Faust on a 23-yard pass to the Raider 36-yard line with 14 seconds left. On the next play, Fields sacked Mmahat and time expired before the Crusaders could run another play, giving Rummel a hard-earned victory.

Mmahat was 13-of-24 for 321 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. Faust caught four passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns.

Brother Martin coach Mark Bonis praised his team’s effort in a tough defeat.

“It’s always tough when you leave the field and you’re not the last team standing with a win,” Bonis said. “It doesn’t feel good. You hurt for your seniors. They really battled and played a really good football game tonight. It just didn’t go our way tonight. That’s the way it happens, sometimes. Garrett really had a great game tonight.”

Both teams blew great opportunities to score in the half. Rummel fumbled the ball away at the Brother Martin one-yard line while Brother Martin had a touchdown negated by a block in the back penalty.

Roth found the wild game hard to describe.

“In many ways, it felt like we didn’t deserve to win but we found a way to do so,” Roth said. “Hats off to Brother Martin. They were very tough and I knew they would be. It wasn’t pretty. They made it a 48-minute game.”

The Raiders (9-2) advance to face No. 2 Catholic High in Baton Rouge next Friday night in the semifinals. The Bears whipped No. 10 St. Augustine 42-19. It is Rummel’s first trip to the semifinals since 2015, when the top-seeded Raiders were upset by Catholic 31-28 in the Division I state championship game.

“We are glad to be back in the semifinals,” Roth said. “It seems like it has been a while. We are looking forward to the opportunity.”

FINAL

RUM 0 7 7 13 — 27
BM 0 3 10 10 — 23

Scoring
2nd Qtr.
BM—Jack Landry, 42-yard field goal 3-0 BM at 8:02-2nd
RUM—Chandler Fields, 54-yard run (Patrick Vanderbrook kick) 7-3 RUM at 6:49-2nd

3rd Qtr.
BM—Brady Faust, 69-yard pass from Garrett Mmahat (Jack Landry kick) 10-7 BM at 11:21-3rd
BM—Jack Landry, 37-yard field goal 13-7 at 4:00-3rd
RUM—Jaelen Sturgis, 6-yard run (Patrick Vanderbrook kick) 14-13 at 1:04 3rd

4th Qtr.
BM—Brady Faust, 50-yard pass from Garrett Mmahat (Jack Landry kick) 20-14 BM at 7:24-4th
RUM—Jacob Renton, 64-yard pass from Chandler Fields (Patrick Vanderbrook kick) 21-20 RUM at 7:03-4th
BM—Jack Landry, 28-yard field goal 23-21 BM @ 4:23-4th
RUM—Amour Rachal, 42-yard pass from Chandler Fields (pass fails) 27-23 RUM @ 1:14-4th

First Downs:
RUM 17
BM 16

Turnovers:
RUM 2
BM 1

Sacks:
RUM 2
BM 2

Penalties:
RUM 10 for 103 yards
BM 8 for 71 yards

RUSHING YARDS
RUM 262 yards
BM 70 yards

PASSING YARDS
RUM 179 yards
BM 321 yards

TOTAL YARDS:
RUM 441 yards
BM 391 yards

RUM RUSH
Jaelen Sturgis 15 carries for 89 yards, 1 TD
Logan Diggs 11 carries for 56 yards
Kyle Walker 7 carries for 68 yards
Chandler Fields 6 carries for 48 yards, 1 TD

RUM Pass
Chandler Fields 6-of-12 for 179 yards, 2 TD’s

RUM Receiving
Jacob Renton 3 catches for 86 yards, 1 TD
Amount Rachal 2 catches, 82 yards 1 TD
Jaelen Sturgis 1 catch for 11 yards

BM RUSH
Jaylon Spears 11 carries for 48 yards
Chris Smith 12 carries for 31 yards
LJ Gilyot 1 carry for 7 yards
Garrett Mmahat 3 carries for -14 yards

BM PASS
Garrett Mmahat 13-of-24 for 321 yards, 2 TD’s, 1 INT

BM Receiving
Brady Faust 4 catches for 171 yards, 2 TD’s
LJ Gilyot 5 catches for 105 yards
John Louis 2 catches for 40 yards
Chris Smith 1 catch for 9 yards
Jaylor Spears 1 catch for -3 yards