The Vikes huddle up after their third consecutive defeat. Jacob Rhee’19/Staff
The CA football team continued to slide on Friday, October 5, as Bishop Ready topped the Vikings in a shootout, 56-42.
Academy jumped in front within seconds. Junior Carter Warstler found a lane on the opening kickoff and returned it 76 yards for a touchdown. The Silver Knights kept their composure, marching down the field and tying the game.
The Vikes were stifled on the ensuing drive, but jumped on a live ball after a punt to regain possession in Bishop Ready territory. They found the end zone soon after, as senior Dorrian Moultrie took a handoff and scored from 7 yards out.
Bishop Ready responded immediately. Quarterback Austin Aiello put a deep shot on the money, and Jaishan Norris took it 80 yards to the house, evening the score at 14.
The Silver Knights grabbed the upper hand to start the second period, pounding their way into the end zone. But CA didn’t blink. Sophomore Brady Hess zipped a short pass to Moultrie, who broke four tackles on his way to a 32-yard touchdown.
Bishop Ready’s offense continued to fire on all cylinders, as the Silver Knights rumbled for a score. The Vikings answered, as Hess rolled left and hit senior Jordan Dearing-Hardiman in the end zone from 27 yards out. It was the first touchdown of Dearing-Hardiman’s career, and the squads headed to halftime deadlocked at 28.
The break didn’t cool Bishop Ready off one bit. The Silver Knights punched it in on their first possession, and when Academy failed to hold serve, they capitalized, extending the lead to 42-28 with another touchdown.
In desperate need of a spark to begin the final period, the Vikes turned to Moultrie. The spectacular wideout delivered, reeling in a 15-yard throw from Hess in the end zone.
CA’s defense, however, simply could not stop the Bishop Ready running game. Aiello faked a sweep and took it himself, sprinting untouched to the house. The Silver Knights then picked off Hess and scored again, putting the game out of reach.
Though it was too late, Moultrie tallied his fourth touchdown of the night, making a juggling grab on a deep ball from Hess for a 42-yard score. Moultrie continues to cement his place among the greatest players in program history.
After recovering the onside kick attempt, Bishop Ready ran out the clock, and sealed a hard-fought win.
The Vikings now sit at 3-4 on the season and have been all but eliminated from playoff contention. But Academy has a job to finish and looks to return to the win column when it hosts Bloom-Carroll on Friday, October 12.
