QB Matt Sailing’18 fakes a handoff and charges toward the goal line. (Chris Heermann’18/Media)
Despite a pair of dominant victories to open the season, the CA football had yet to prove itself against an elite opponent. And the Vikings did exactly that on Friday, September 8, blowing the doors off of Newark Catholic, 38-0.
With an 8-point loss to the Green Wave a year ago still lingering in their minds, the Vikes came out of the gates swinging. They forced two straight punts to begin the game, and with 6 minutes remaining in the first quarter, the CA offense set up shop near midfield.
The Vikings marched down the field, and senior quarterback Matt Saling capped off the drive by finding Dorrian Moultrie’19 for a 10-yard touchdown. It was the junior wideout’s first score of the season.
It didn’t take long for CA to double its lead. On its ensuing possession, Saling connected with Moultrie again. This time on a curl route. Moultrie then broke a tackle and danced around Green Wave defenders before diving for the pylon.
In a 14-0 hole midway through the second period, a desperate Newark Catholic tried to find an offensive spark. But Academy’s suffocating defense wouldn’t budge, continuing to force punts.
After the Vikes tacked a field goal onto their lead, the Green Wave finally began to move the ball. But the drive stalled at CA’s 10-yard line, as it faced a 4th and 1. Green Wave Coach Bill Franks elected to go for it, but the decision backfired. The swarming Vikings defense stood tall, preserving a 17-0 lead heading into the half.
After receiving the ball to begin the third quarter, Newark Catholic looked to mount a comeback. But things only got worse. After moving into Academy territory, pressure from the Vikes forced the Green Wave quarterback into an errant throw. Senior Davis Friedman picked it off, breaking a tackle at midfield and taking it 74 yards to the house. It was Friedman’s second consecutive game with a defensive touchdown, as he is enjoying a blazing start to the season.
Later in the quarter, CA delivered the finishing blow. Saling threw a jump ball to the back of the end zone, and his classmate Matt Schiano came down with it to make the score 31-0.
The Green Wave tried its best to put a garbage time touchdown on the board, but the Vike’s bloodthirsty defense would have none of it. Through three games, Academy has still not given up a single point, and its defense is on track to become one of the greatest in school history.
With 4 minutes remaining, senior running back Herman Moultrie knifed through the Green Wave defense for an 8-yard touchdown to put a bow on top of a signature win for the Vikings.
Brimming with confidence, CA will put its undefeated record on the line as it travels to London on Friday, September 15.
