For the second time in as many weeks, STA football broke open a close game with 28 second-quarter points to top visiting Saint John Paul the Great 42-0.  Both teams started slowly as they exchanged punts and turnovers in the first five offensive series. Halfway through the first quarter the St. Albans defense stopped a fourth down attempted pass at their own 25-yard line. Junior Zahir Cobb took a Brett Pautskis pass to mid-field on the first play of the ensuing possession. After a first-down run by junior Will Martin, Pautskis connected with senior wideout Lacy Rice for a 37-yard touchdown to put the Bulldogs up 7-0 with 6:42 left in the first quarter.

 

With the score still 7-0 at the start of the second quarter, STA faced a second and long from their own 37-yard line when Cobb decided he would take over the game. Pautskis hit Cobb for a gain of six, then found Christian Cherilus on the left sideline for 25 yards. The sophomore play caller dropped a screen pass to Cobb on the next play and he took it to the end zone untouched with 10:56 on the clock. The Wolves found some success with their running game and drove the ball inside St. Albans territory on a 4-minute drive, but junior linebacker Gabe Donoghue pressured the quarterback on a third down pass attempt to force a punt.  Junior Edward Samuel picked up 11 on a first-down screen pass, then the fireworks started. From his own 37, Pautskis dropped a perfect pass to Cobb at the Wolves’ 30 and the junior wideout juked his way to the end zone for his second score of the quarter and a 21-0 lead.

 

Junior linebacker Paulos Preston intercepted a pass at the Wolves’ 37-yard line on the next possession. Then Cobb struck again, taking a screen pass at the 40 and streaking down the home sideline for his and STA’s third touchdown in three minutes. Senior Christian Cherilus sprung Cobb with an outstanding block on the perimeter. Having demonstrated his skills on the offensive side of the ball, Cobb wanted to showcase his defensive prowess also.  Playing in the slot as a cornerback, Cobb stepped in front of a third down pass and returned it 33 yards for his fourth touchdown of the quarter and a 35-0 lead after Peter King converted his fifth extra point in five tries.

 

On the second play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Pautskis hit Lacy Rice on a slant pattern at the 50 and the senior raced past three Wolves’ defenders for the Dogs’ sixth and final touchdown of the day. The Dogs improved their non-conference record to 4-0 with a bye-week coming up before they head to Chantilly, VA for a Friday night matchup with Paul VI on October 4.