Class 5A top-ranked Indianapolis Cathedral defeated Class 6A third-rated Brownsburg, 20-7, in high school football Friday night to remain unbeaten. The Fighting Irish defense held the Bulldogs to 184 yards of total offense and returned a blocked punt for a score to lead the way.
On the first play of its second possession, Cathedral sophomore quarterback Danny O’Neil completed an 80-yard touchdown pass to Jaron Tibbs, giving the Irish an early 7-0 lead. Brownsburg threatened to answer on its next possession, moving to the Irish 16-yard line, but Jeff Utzinger intercepted Jayden Whitaker’s pass at the 3-yard line to end the Bulldog drive.
In the opening minute of the second quarter, Ben Gomez kicked a career-long 42-yard field goal to conclude the first half scoring and give Cathedral a 10-0 lead at the intermission. Brownsburg began the second half with a nine-play, 80-yard, drive, which ended with Garrett Sherrill scoring on a 13-yard run and narrowed the margin to 10-7.
However, the Irish defense, which had not allowed any points in the first six quarters this season, shut out the Bulldogs for the remainder of the game. Gomez added a 19-yard field goal in the third quarter and Dominic Seibal returned a blocked Bulldog punt 10 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to finish the scoring.
O’Neil completed 17 of 30 passes to seven different receivers for a total of 211 yards. Tibbs caught four passes for 100 yards in his second consecutive game with 100 or more yards receiving. The Irish defense sacked Whitaker five times and held the Brownsburg to just 70 yards rushing on 38 attempts.
Cathedral, now 2-0, hosts Class 6A Penn at Arlington Middle School next Friday. The Kingsmen have an 0-2 record following a season opening 35-7 loss at Valparaiso and a 21-14 overtime loss at home against LaPorte on Friday. The Irish won their first-ever meeting with Penn last season by a 52-7 score.