HARWELLPHOTO.COM

St. Vincent-St. Mary's Dante Booker (47) and Aaron Bushner (7) wrap up University School quarterback Tyler Eden during the Irish's 27-14 win in the Division III, Region 9 quarterfinals.

HUNTING VALLEY, Ohio -- They’re two of the smallest players for St. Vincent-St. Mary, but senior place kicker Antonio Manfut and junior wide receiver Franshon Bickley came up big Saturday for the Fighting Irish as they defeated the University School Preppers 27-14 in a Division III, Region 5 semifinal game.

Manfut (5-foot-8, 140 pounds) was perfect on his two field goal attempts (32 and 21 yards) and his three extra- point attempts.  Bickley, a 5-foot-7, 145-pounder, caught four passes for 108 yards and returned a punt 36 yards for a touchdown as the Fighting Irish dominated the game from start to finish.

After an exchange of punts to open the game, the Irish took over at the University School 47.  A Kevin Besser-to-Bickley pass of 28 yards set up St. Vincent-St. Mary deep in University territory at the 20.  The drive stalled at the 15, and Manfut gave the Irish a 3-0 lead with a 32-yard field goal.

The Irish defense forced the Preppers into a three-and-out following the ensuing kickoff and the offense was back at it.  This time, senior tailback Sae’von Fitzgerald had the big play, a 58-yard run that took the ball to the University 1-yard line.  Fitzgerald finished the drive with a 1-yard sweep around left end to give the Irish a 10-0 lead.

Fitzgerald finished with 15 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown.

On St. V-M’s next possession, Besser, the senior quarterback, hooked up with both Bickley and Fitzgerald on 20-yard pass plays, leading to Manfut’s second field goal of the day and 13-0 Irish lead. Besser was 11-of-19 for 160 yards passing.

St. V-M’s defense stopped University deep in its own territory and forced the Preppers to punt. Bickley broke the game open with a weaving 64-yard punt return through University defenders en route to a touchdown and a 20-0 lead. .

“I saw the ball on the ground. I picked it up and saw an open seam and I took it,” Bickley said. “I had to step up my game so we could be back out here next week.”

The final Irish touchdown came on their first possession of the second half.  It was Bickley once again, hooking up with Besser on a 52-yard catch.  Besser finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to make it 27-0.

University School (9-2) scored touchdowns in both the third and fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deep hole dug by St. V-M.  The Preppers’ last touchdown came with one second remaining in the game.

“Any playoff win is a good win,” said Fighting Irish coach Dan Boarman.  “It’s one and done and you have to get the job done.”

St. Vincent-St. Mary (9-2) will face Lake Catholic next Friday night at a site to be determined.

ON THE SCOREOARD:

St. Vincent-St. Mary    10 – 10 – 7 – 0 = 27

University School            0 – 0 – 7 – 7 = 14

FIRST QUARTER:

STVM – Antonio Manfut 32 field goal, 5:42

STVM – Sae’von Fitzgerald 1 run (Manfut kick), 3:18

SECOND QUARTER:

STVM – Manfut 21 field goal, 9:45

STVM -  Franshon Bickley 36 punt return (Manfut kick), 7:40

THIRD QUARTER:

STVM – Kevin Besser 5 run (Manfut kick), 7:05

US – Kevin Smith 19 run (Harry Reu kick), :50

FOURTH QUARTER:

US – Jordan Barham 42 pass from Tyler Eden (Reu kick), :01