Brebeuf beats Chatard for first time since 1976
By BEN FAHRBACH
ISL Correspondent
When Brebeuf quarterback Aaron Banks took the final snap and kneeled to let the clock run out, the players began bumping chests and jumping for joy, the Brebeuf students poured onto the field to celebrate with their classmates. They had reason to celebrate — they had just beaten Bishop Chatard.
It wasn’t just that Chatard was the Class 4A number one ranked team, or that the Trojans were three-time defending 3A state champs that made it special.
It was that Brebeuf hadn’t beaten Chatard since the 1976 season. Before most of their parents were even born.
As the Braves and their faithful celebrated joyously on the field, the Trojans stood and watched, lined up, waiting to shake hands to congratulate their opponents. Sportsmanship is what the IHSAA is all about, this was on display as Chatard waited and watched and swallowed their pride until the Braves began filing over to shake hands.
Chatard coach Vince Lorenzano addressed his team after they shook hands with the opposing coaches and players, his message was quite simple: “They did what it took to beat us.”
He mentioned the players’ class and sportsmanship of waiting to shake hands. He touched on the fact the effort was there but that the execution was poor. He mentioned that mistakes really hurt badly, as he listed the three interceptions, the fumble lost and the other three fumbled snaps that were recovered, the three personal fouls the defense committed and the aired snap over the punters head that put the Braves in position for their final and decisive score.
His biggest point of emphasis was, “This is what you get when you practice the way you have practiced.”
He was adamant that they must prepare harder, that lineups are not set and that he was ultimately to blame for not having them prepared.
To recap what led us to the Braves celebrating their upset victory we should start from the beginning.
Brebeuf was shut down on their opening drive without recording a first down, memories of Chatard’s defensive juggernauts came to mind. After receiving the punt, the Trojans took to the ground, pounding the ball with senior running back Alex Kimack. Memories of every Chatard team I have ever seen came to mind (dominate the line and run the defense into submission). Third-and-goal from the 8-yard line, and the Trojans opted to pass the ball (passing is not prevalent in my memories of Chatard football). The first Trojan pass attempt of the season became the Braves’ first interception of the season.
After exchanging punts, the Braves handed off to junior LeVante Bellamy, and the track star found daylight and was gone, an 87-yard dead sprint for the end zone. He ended the game with 15 rushes for 134 yards and three touchdowns. Chatard was not able to counter until the Braves had already put up another touchdown and had kicked a field goal to make it 16-0.
Chatard had a bumpy road with a few turnovers, but still rallied to take a 17-16 lead behind two touchdowns by Kimack and a field goal by fellow senior Chase Sadler. Kimack ended his night with an ultra-impressive 36 rushes for 249 yards. His long run was a 69-yard burst that set up the field goal.
The game was winding down and Chatard had the ball. The Trojans could have killed the game clock had they been able to get two or three first downs. Instead, they were forced to punt from their 47-yard line with 1:58 left in the game. The punt, which could have kept the Braves from a good chance of scoring, never happened. The snap sailed well over punter Blake Ayres head. He gave chase, scooped it up and did what he could, but Chatard was hit for a 38-yard loss, setting Brebeuf up for the winning score, a 9-yard touchdown run by Bellamy.
The Trojans still had a shot, getting the ball at their 28 with 1:47 left, but Sam Gleaves threw his third interception of the game, sealing the deal for Brebeuf.
