Notre Dame tops Kaplan for 3-5A title

• By CHRIS KENNEDY
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Nov 7, 2009

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KAPLAN — Looking at the final score, 28-3, one would think No. 1-ranked Notre Dame of Crowley dominated No. 4 Kaplan in a game to decide the District 5-3A champion Friday.

But that really was not the case.

One play midway in the third period was the turning point of the game.

Notre Dame led 14-0 for most of the first half, then Kaplan (8-2) put points on the board when Kameron Abshire nailed a 28-yard-field goal with 51 seconds remaining in the first half.

That kick gave the Pirates momentum at the start of the second half. Kaplan, on its first drive of the second half, drove 76 yards in 12 plays.

The Pirates faced a fourth-and-three, from the ND 4-yard line and elected to go for it. Kaplan’s Jalen Baker, who had 89 yards rushing in the game, went up the middle and was stuffed at the line of scrimmage.

The Pios (10-0) got the ball back and marched 96 yards in 13 plays for their third touchdown of the game. Marshall Watson scored from 8 yards out, and Stephen Benoit nailed the extra point to make it a 21-3 game.

“That was a pretty big play,” said Norte Dame linebacker D.J. Welter, who committed to LSU earlier in the year. “That play shifted momentum. It was just a great play all around.”

Notre Dame coach Lewis Cook agreed.

‘To me, that was the difference in the game,” said Cook. “Then we take the game and go 96 yards. What a big turnaround that was.”

On the kickoff after Watson’s TD, Kaplan’s Marc Constable fumbled the kickoff and Notre Dame’s Tyler Melancon recovered it on the Kaplan 17.

On the next play, Notre Dame quarterback Ryan Leonards found Stu Cook in the corner of the end zone for a score.

Kaplan coach Brent Indest said his squad needed to score when it had the chance.