Patterson (Baltimore, Md.) 20, Archbishop Curley (Baltimore, Md.) 13A broken play and subsequent desperation pitch by Patterson's Craig Oliver turned out to be the senior quarterback's best, or at least luckiest, play of the day as the Clippers defeated Archbishop Curley, 20-13, in the first of four games Saturday at Morgan State University.
With just under two minutes remaining in the game and Patterson holding a narrow 14-13 lead, Oliver tried to run up the middle but was forced to roll out to his right and was on his way down when he pitched the ball back to Anthony Dandridge. The surprised senior wide receiver grabbed the ball and then sprinted 72 yards down the right sideline and into the end zone to give the Clippers a 20-13 lead.
Patterson quarterback Craig Oliver.
Photo by Jim Stout
"I didn't know he was going to pitch it to me," an elated Dandridge said after the game, "so I knew it was my opportunity and so I took it and took off. I knew we had the win when he gave me the ball because nobody was going to catch me."
It was the Patterson defense that held strong late in the game on Curley's final two drives. The Friars had a fourth-and-inches at the Patterson 21 but the Clippers' defensive line stood up fullback Nik D'Avanzo to set up Dandridge's heroic run.
"The defensive stop was huge," Patterson coach Corey Johnson said. "[The defensive line] really responded and stood that big fullback up right at the line."
Curley's final drive was halted by senior defensive back Derwin Beasley's fumble recovery with under a minute to play. Oliver then took three knees and watched the game clock expire.
"This win means a lot," Oliver said. "We missed a lot of practice due to the storm. We had something to prove. We heard on the radio last night about Dunbar in D.C., like we didn't exist. So we wanted to prove ourselves."
Oliver was in on both of Patterson's other scores, running 65 yards on a quarterback keeper for the Clippers' first score and then hooking up with senior Derwin Beasley on a 34-yard pass for another.
After the game, a relieved Johnson reiterated how much the win means to his young team to start the season.
"We were worried about our first game because of the earthquake and hurricane, and the amount of practice time we missed, especially with the number of new players we have," the sixth-year coach said. "So we were really behind the learning curve. But these guys were just tremendous."
Curley senior fullback Matt Zelechowski carried the ball eight times for 101 yards and two touchdowns.
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