MADISON - In the battle of two schools named St. Joseph, the smaller one from Greenville took control of the game in the second half and overpowered the larger school from Madison on its way to a 30-16 victory on Friday night in Madison.
The score was tied 8-8 at halftime when the Fighting Irish (4-1) from Greenville came out in the second half and employed its power running game, anchored by John Haggard (72 yards on 16 carries), Javeon Byars (98 yards on 14 carries) and Quay Nash (60 yards on 15 carries). The Irish rushed for 249 yards in the first half.
“We decided to go into the Power I, and we just ran it right at him,” St. Joseph head coach John Baker said.
Coach Baker added that he was proud of how his team responded all week after the Irish suffered their first loss of the season last Friday to rival Greenville Christian.
“We responded really well. We had a little hang over in the first half, but we really pulled together.”
The Fighting Irish, the two-time defending state champions, put the game away in the final two minutes of the game when Jaleel Moore forced a fumble and Jaden Easley returned it 50 yards into the endzone. Irish freshman Julius McCullum led the defense with nine-and-a-half tackles.
Haggard opened up the St. Joseph scoring when he rushed in a 9-yard TD run. Haggard also ran in the two-point conversion to tie things up at 8-8.
The game started inauspiciously for Greenville St. Joseph when it muffed the opening kickoff and the Bruins capitalized by scoring a quick touchdown.
The Fighting Irish start a three-game home stand next Friday when they take on Class 6A Magnolia Heights.
