Benet’s second football game (and first home game) of the season was filled with fantastic fan-to-player camaraderie and the anticipation of another win to add to the record book. The Redwings were scheduled to face Notre Dame Dons, who had aptly started their season with a win as well. The Benet student section was proudly chanting as senior Victor Karam kicked the ball to commence the game.

Much to the homecrowd’s dismay, Notre Dame was able to weasel in a touchdown off the kick return, setting the scoreboard at 0-7 only 19 seconds into the game. The Redwings spent the rest of the first half attempting to even up the score, and although these attempts were fruitless, the team was able to play lock down defense and prevent another Notre Dame touchdown.

After the second half began, it looked like it would be much like the first: a stagnancy that was the result of nearly equal ability on both teams. Suddenly, Benet senior Sean Theisen was able to score off a run play, and the score was even. The crowd was ecstatic. Benet was able to keep the Dons scoreless for the remainder of the third quarter.

The score was still 7-7 until there were four minutes left in the game, and Notre Dame was able to score another touchdown. With time scarce and the knowledge that the game still wasn’t over, junior Ben Hickey was able to tie it up with a touchdown for Benet Academy. It had officially become “anyone’s game.

Unfortunately, in a sort of reciprocal of the manner in which they scored the first points of the game, Notre Dame was able to kick a field goal in the last 60 seconds of the game.

Although this was a heartbreaking loss, the proximity in score shows that the Redwings’ determination doesn’t falter until the clock runs out. This grit will serve them well in the future.