Football: FGR rallies in fourth quarter to improve to 3-0; Detroit Loyola next up

After two blowout wins to open the season, the Father Gabriel Richard football team faced its first test of the season on Friday night – and passed with flying green and white colors.

It wasn’t exactly a textbook performance by the Irish but a win is a win and FGR now has three of them heading into week four against another tough test in Detroit Loyola.

After a sloppy three quarters – which included two turnovers – and down 7-0 heading into the fourth quarter on the road last week at Macomb Lutheran North, the Irish made adjustments in the final quarter and pulled off a 14-7 win over the Mustangs.   

FGR was led into the red zone by Jack Smith, who had another strong game for the Irish. Senior Ben Spore scored both of FGR’s touchdowns in his varsity debut.

The defense held strong by forcing three turnovers (one being a turnover on downs at the end of the game). The FGR defense bent but didn’t break as Macomb Lutheran North marched 80 yards down field with seconds remaining, but held Lutheran North to a fourth-and-three incomplete pass giving the Irish the ball back to kneel with less than a minute left.

The Mustangs fall to 1-2 on the season.

FGR hosts Detroit Loyola at 4 p.m. on Friday. The Bulldogs are 1-2 after last week’s 40-19 win over London (Ontario) Catholic Central.

Loyola reached the playoffs last year and defeated FGR 38-14.