Jimmy Keefe throws five touchdowns, leading No. 25 St. Edward past No. 13 Mainland

Video: Jimmy Keefe's highlights vs. Bergen Catholic

First-year St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) football coach Tom Lombardo and his team's first-year starting quarterback Jimmy Keefe had a lot in common coming into the season.

Basically, both had a lot to prove.

Keefe has helped make Lombardo look good, especially on Saturday, throwing for five touchdowns in an impressive 47-28 home victory over 13th-ranked Mainland (Daytona Beach, Fla.).

According to Cleveland.com, Keefe completed touchdown passes of 16, 34, 37, 34 and 4 yards — two going to Matthew Gonzalez — and Cole Gest rushed for 224 yards as the 25th-ranked Eagles (6-1) handed Mainland (6-1) its first defeat.

"I liked Jimmy's attitude from the get-go," Lombardo said of his 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior quarterback. "He hadn't taken many snaps last year but came in prepared. He rarely gets rattled. He's been extremely efficient."

The Eagles needed it.

According to Lombardo, St. Edward graduated 12 Division I players from last year's state championship team and though talented, the new group needed strong senior leadership.

"He's given us that," Lombardo said.

He has given his team much more than that against one of the toughest schedules in the country. Mainland, considered the most talented team St. Edward has faced, was the fifth out-of-state squad on the Eagles' schedule.

Mainland got strong games from quarterback Denzel Houston (284 total yards) and receiver Randy Baker (six catches, 155 yards, two touchdowns).

But Mainland was called for 15 penalties for 155 yards.

Part of Mainlaind's woes might have been fatigue. According to the newspaper, the Florida team's flight, set up through Hercules Sports Management, fell through last week and it had to make alternative plans, which included a night's stay in North Carolina and a long bus ride.

"How much it impacted the game it's hard to say, but you have to give them credit," Lombardo said.