Cathedral HS

By Mark Ambrogi

The Cathedral High School football team managed to hang with one of the nation's best Friday night. But in the end, Louisville Trinity, ranked No. 3 in the ESPN national poll, made too many big plays in a 24-16 victory over the Class 4A No. 5 Irish at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Dalyn Dawkins, nephew of former star NFL defensive back Brian Dawkins, scored on a 40-yard touchdown run to give Trinity a 17-10 lead in the third quarter. The Irish scored on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Connor Rice to Sampson Levingston, but missed the extra point.

Trinity took a 24-16 lead on a 72-yard TD pass from Travis Wright to James Quick, who has offers from several major colleges.

"That was a backbreaker," Cathedral coach Rick Streiff said. "That's what they do. We gave up too many big plays."

The Irish (2-4) turned the ball over on downs when a fourth-and-2 pass fell incomplete with 4:18 to go. Cathedral's Cooper Riddle picked off a pass in the end zone to get the ball back and the Irish drove to the Trinity 48-yard line, but Rice was intercepted by Trey Wright on fourth down.

"We moved the ball well, but we've got to finish drives," Streiff said.

Cathedral scored first on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Rice to Luke Cureton with 3:29 left in the first quarter. It was set up by an interception by Drew Bailey.

Trinity answered with a 9-yard TD pass from Wright to Cody Swabek to make it 7-all with 27 seconds left in the first quarter.

Drew Ward kicked a 24-yard field goal to give Trinity a 10-7 edge with 5:48 left in the second quarter. Cathedral's Joseph Schopper kicked a 35-yarder with 7:07 left in the third quarter to make it 10-10. After driving to the Irish 14, the Shamrocks' Ward missed a 31-yard field goal.

Cathedral also has lost to perennial Indiana powers Ben Davis and Bishop Chatard and traditional national power Cincinnati St. Xavier. The Irish beat Indiana contenders Warren Central and Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger.

"It's a tough schedule, (but) you've still got to win games," Streiff said. "I don't want our guys to have a false sense of security, that when they get to the tournament, they'll just be all right."