Anne Arundel
Defense Rules the Day As No. 7 Wildcats Roll
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Friday, September 18, 2009
On most nights, to play defense for Arundel is to live in the shadows, watching as the Wildcats' record-setting offense draws the most attention. But on Thursday night, Arundel's defenders simply would not be ignored.
On four occasions, including once on special teams, the boys in green flashed across the field, knocked the football loose from a Broadneck player and corralled it underneath a pile. Once, for good measure, the Wildcats added an interception.
Those five turnovers fueled No. 7 Arundel's 28-6 home victory, which was a shutout until the final four minutes.
"The defense always gets overlooked," Wildcats senior linebacker Bobby Partilla said, "but everyone underrates us and then we come out and do something like this. And then they're like, 'Okay, now their defense is getting there.' "
Partilla set the tone for Arundel (3-0 , 3-0 Anne Arundel) by recording a sack on Broadneck's first play of the game, then forcing and recovering a fumble at the Bruins 30-yard line on the next play.
Arundel's offense converted the turnover into a touchdown when senior quarterback Billy Cosh found senior Jeffery Thomas for a 13-yard score on fourth and nine.
Later in the first quarter, Cosh hit senior R.J. Harris for a 29-yard score to give the Wildcats a 14-0 lead.
Arundel's other two touchdowns, both in the third quarter, resulted from turnovers. A fumble recovery started a 10-play drive that ended in junior Joseph Blackwell's 13-yard scoring run. And after Wildcats senior linebacker Raymond Harris picked off a short pass, Cosh needed just one play to find Harris for an 18-yard touchdown.
"Our coach tells us all the time, [the offense] is going to be in the papers and we're not," said Harris, referring to defensive coordinator Vinny Elliott. "We've got to make the plays so we finally can [get recognized]."
The Wildcats lost their shutout when Broadneck drove 99 yards in 18 plays to score on a one-yard run. The Bruins fell to 2-1, 2-1.
No. 7 Arundel 28, Broadneck 6 Missed Opportunities: Arundel's 14-0 halftime lead could have been much greater. The Wildcats turned over the ball on downs at Broadneck's 1-yard line, had a pass intercepted at the goal line, and missed a 22-yard field goal in the final minute of the first half. Another Day At the Office: Arundel senior quarterback Billy Cosh finished 26 of 39 for 233 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. Cosh, who set seven state records last season, including the single-season touchdown mark with 56, has 12 scoring passes through three games.
