Saints get off to fast start, roll over Executive Education (updated with video, quotes)
Berks Catholic made quick work of over-matched Executive Education Academy Friday night in its football opener.
The Saints put up touchdowns the first four times they touched the ball, two of them from Christian Cacchione, and went on to a 46-12 non-league victory at Forino Sports Complex.
The game was suspended late in the second quarter and not resumed.
Cacchione finished with four touchdowns and scored in three phases of the game, including a 37-yard punt return and a 15-yard fumble return.
The Raptors are playing their inaugural season of football and it showed, with some mental errors early in the game. Their defense failed to cover a punt and Cacchione alertly picked it off the ground and returned it for a touchdown for a 27-0 lead.
Earlier, he picked up a fumble and took it back for a 14-0 lead.
“Christian’s a play-maker,” said Saints coach Rick Keeley. “On the punt return everybody just stopped for some reason and Christian picked p the ball and ran it for a touchdown.
“I always tell the kids, special teams are really big in the first game of the season, and that was a big special teams play for us.”
Senior quarterback Mitchell Gatz, making his first start, completed all four of his passes for 58 yards and two for touchdowns.
He scrambled to get free, then found tight end Aron Reinhart at the goal line for a 16-yard scoring pass and a 7-0 lead.
Cacchione rushed for a team-high 97 yards on six carries.
“I like that our very first offensive series we put together a very nice drive,” Keeley said. “We scored on waggle with the tight, and Mitchell put the ball right there. That was a very nice drive to start the season.”
Later Gatz threw a beautiful fade to Josiah Jordan, who hauled it in for a 22-yard score and 33-7 lead.
“Mitchell showed a lot of poise, he was good in the huddle, he took control of the offense,” Keeley said. “And when we did lay it on his shoulders to throw the ball he came up good.”
The game was suspended just before halftime when lightning was seen in the area, and it was not resumed.
With most other teams in the Reading area unable to get started because of storms in the area, the Saints benefited from a 5 p.m. kickoff and weather was not an issue for most of the first half.
“I like the way this team has come around,” Keeley said. “We have good team speed with some play-makers. We have some big linemen, and I’m really happy with the work they put in and the strength of our kids. We have all the tools to be a formidable opponent for everybody we play this year.”
Things will certainly get a lot tougher next week when the Saints play Class 6A powerhouse Central Dauphin.