ENCINO — Notre Dame kicked off the high school football season with a nonleague 34-21 win over host Crespi Friday night.
The Knights defense was impressive early, creating short fields for the offense four different times in the first half. All four drives resulted in points.
After a first-quarter punt set the Knights up at the Celts 24-yard line, Notre Dame senior quarterback Tahj Skinner broke the scoreless tie when he tossed a 24-yard score to junior Emmanuel Pullins.
Skinner also started in the secondary for the Knights, recording an interception and a pass breakup as he starred on both sides of the ball.
“It takes a unique kid, as you could imagine,” said Notre Dame coach Evin Yabu. “Physically, we already can acknowledge that it’s gonna be a test, just having to play that many sheer snaps of downs. From my lens, what’s even harder is that people don’t realize is cognitively what it takes to be able to be the quarterback of a defense and then simultaneously be the quarterback of an offense. So it’s a lot, but he’s one of the only guys I’ve ever coached that can do it at that level.”
After another punt, Notre Dame found the end zone again on the second play of the second quarter for a 14-0 lead when Noel Washington scored on a 2-yard run.
On the first play of the next drive, Ebubechukwu Okobi broke through the line and forced a strip sack that was recovered by Richard Dunn. Two plays later, Washington plunged in for a 4-yard rushing score.
The Knights defense again forced a fumble on the first play of the next drive, this time with Judge Monroe recovering. Charlie Szaras kicked a 23-yard field goal to make it 24-0.
“What we saw in the second half is what we’re capable of. The first half is big evidence of why you can’t make those self-inflicted mistakes,” said Crespi coach Brad Vonnahme. “You can’t turn the ball over. You can’t. We spotted them points
Crespi’s offense came to life midway through the second quarter as Chase Curren led a 14-play drive that was capped with a 37-yard touchdown throw to Oliver White on fourth-and-18.
“Chase is a leader and competitor,” said Vonnahme. “He’s got a huge arm. His demeanor, and the way he approaches things never wavers. It never changes. He just competes the whole way through.”
Curren, who finished 26 of 43 passing for 377 yards in defeat, also threw a pair of scores to Rylan Jackson.
“Chase Curren was highly, highly, highly impressive,” said Yabu. “Coming into the game, we had that type of respect for him, and we knew that no matter what the situation entailed, that he could keep them in a football game. He did just that.”
One of the biggest moments of the game for Notre Dame came midway through the third quarter when Skinner cramped and had to leave mid-drive. Backup quarterback Joey Boskovich made the most of his one play under center and connected with Mica Weaver on an 88-yard touchdown pass that proved to be the difference in the game.
“That was one of the craziest touchdowns I’ve ever seen,” said Skinner. “It just goes to show how deep our room is, and I feel like me and Joey could both play at this level. Fun fact, Joey’s got a cannon on him and I think they learned that tonight.”