October 21, 2007O'Leary Leads Trinity to 2nd Straight Victory 26-6from The Stamford Advocate STAMFORD - Trinity Catholic High School fans got a glimpse of what coach Bryan Fox envisioned when he moved John O'Leary to quarterback this season. The Crusaders lone returning starter and a receiver last season, O'Leary was injured midway through the second game of the season. Yesterday's contest at Alumni Field was the first game since O'Leary was physically able to go both ways. "He's a difference maker," Fox said. "He adds so much to our offense and when he's on defense he allows us to use personnel in the correct positions. He makes us a different team." Nick Cortese carried 22 times for 120 yards to pace the Trinity attack while O'Leary was another valuable option offensively with 13 carries for 68 yards along with eight for 13 passing for 79 yards and two touchdowns as Trinity defeated Ludlowe, 26-6, for its second straight win and a 2-4 record. "With Nick running the ball as well as he has been and with our passing game working well and our line doing a great job of protecting John, it really helps us offensively," Fox said. The Crusaders were dominant in the first half and raced to a 14-0 advantage before Ludlowe ran a play. Trinity took the opening kickoff and marched 73 yards in 11 plays, capped by a 26-yard O'Leary to Alex Santos touchdown aerial. David Arana converted for a 7-0 lead at the 6:08 mark. Arana popped the ensuing kickoff into the air and the Crusaders' John Carlo Simonetti recovered at the 25-yard line. Four plays later, O'Leary connected with Robb Dombrowski from nine yards out and Arana converted again for a 14-0 advantage. "Our kids were coming off a game where they stayed with Staples (a scoreless game after three periods and a 21-0 loss to the unbeaten Wreckers) but we didn't come to play (yesterday)," Ludlowe coach Mike Forget said. "We didn't move the ball on offense, we gave away too much on defense and our special teams made mistakes. "That onsides kick was the turning point. After that we tanked," Forget said. When the Falcons finally got the ball they were able to get one first down before punting. The Crusaders then went on another scoring drive, 14 plays and 80 yards, with Cortese bulling in from 10 yards out for a 20-0 halftime advantage. The first half was total domination by Trinity. The Crusaders ran 35 plays to 16 for Ludlowe, collected 213 yards of total offense to 18 yards for the Falcons and had a 12-1 advantage in first downs. The second half started equally as bad for Ludlowe as O'Leary picked off a Rob Ferrara pass on the second play. After Cortese ripped off 21 yards, O'Leary gained eight and then Cortese scored from 1-yard for a 26-0 Trinity lead. Ludlowe's Nico Martire halted another Trinity drive with an interception and Trinity didn't have another scoring opportunity in the game. Ludlowe (1-5), meanwhile, recovered a Trinity fumble in the fourth quarter which led to the Falcons' lone score. Aided by three consecutive penalties and solid running by Philip Tsopanides, Ludlowe moved to the 6-yard line and sophomore quarterback Ferrara ran it in from there for the score. Fox was not satisfied with his team's performance in the second half. "We played well in the first half and played well enough in the second half, but we have to become a better tackling team. "And I'm concerned with the penalties," Fox added. "We have to stay away from mistakes. You can't win close game when you're making those mistakes." The Crusaders will be at Brien McMahon for a 6 p.m. game Friday while Ludlowe will host Stamford on Friday night. Copyright © 2007, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.
 Big senior defensive tackle Vladimir Joseph swims by an offensive lineman in a 28-20 home victory over Fairfield Ludlowe on October 29, 2005. (CrusaderNation.net / Dana Maul)
 Junior defensive tackle Santiago "Teggy" Steele wraps up a Darien
rusher as his
 Junior center Cory Johnson prepares to snap the ball to fellow classmate
 The Crusader offensive line pushes Bassick around in the mud. The
Crusaders
 Senior wideout Rob Hawthorn races downfield to block as junior fullback
Eric Stephens
 2005 All-FCIAC East Offense Row 1, Left to Right: Eric Wells, Bassick; Willie Epps, McMahon;
Pete Raymond,
 2005 All-FCIAC East Defense Row 1, Left to Right: Joe Luchesi, Danbury; Greg Sabo, Danbury; James
Taylor, Danbury;
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