FAIRFIELD — The seeds planted last year by the Notre Dame Prep football team have grown into a contender this season.
Riding big performances from quarterback LJ Richardson and running back Ja’cari Harris, the Lancers scored five second-half touchdowns and overcame New Fairfield 43-26 in a battle of undefeated teams Friday night at Sacred Heart University's Campus Field.
Notre Dame Prep, a state semifinalist two years ago, improved to 4-0 after winning just two of 10 games last season.
The Lancers still have a relatively young squad with just five seniors on their roster, but it’s one with experience after a trial by fire last season.
“The thing that they learned most importantly last year is that they have to play for each other,” Notre Dame Prep coach John Johnson said. “We had a lot of guys last year who were riding off the coattails of what happened two years ago. They learned we can’t do that. They learned they’ve got to play for each other, play hard at all times and respect the game of football, and your opponents. That’s what these guys do at all times.”
Richardson, a junior who played at St. Thomas More last season, has taken over as Notre Dame Prep’s starting QB, and while he and the offense were relatively quiet in the first half, they exploded for four touchdowns and 29 points in the second half.
Richardson had a 51-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, a big response after the Rebels had cut the Lancers’ lead to 14-7. He also passed for 148 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 83 yards and two scores.
“I just had some of my guys throw on the switch,” Richardson said. “It was too close of a game. They have a good quarterback, so we couldn’t let them get too close.”
Harris, a 5-foot-11, 230-pound freshman, continued to be a beast in the run game for Notre Dame Prep, putting up 122 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. He’s surpassed 100 yards in each of the first four games.
“Everyone knows I love big running backs,” Johnson said. “That’s why this kid came here. Right before that (last) series, I told him you’re getting the ball every single time and we’re going to ice this game. He takes pride in that.”
New Fairfield’s fortunes have been similar to the Lancers'. The Rebels were 3-7 last season, but have already matched that win total by winning three of their first four games.
“I’m really proud of the way they competed the entire game,” New Fairfield coach Greg Schwarz said. “We have to clean some things up, but knowing the way they are, I know we’re going to come back and be a better team. I’m sure it was clear on the field what they’re willing to do for each other on the turf. This is all the process of getting better,”
Senior quarterback Michael Traynor has been the straw that stirs the drink for the Rebels. He passed for 278 yards and three touchdowns on Friday, although he was picked off twice, first by Marvel Johnson and then on a 40-yard pick-six by Jayce Edmondson.
The Lancers had a response for everything the Rebels threw at them in the second half. New Fairfield scored on the opening drive of the second half to cut a 14-point deficit in half, but Richardson answered with his long touchdown run.
After Traynor connected with Jack Riccio for a 29-yard score to cut the lead down to 21-13, Notre Dame Prep went 65 yards and scored on a 17-yard pass from Richardson to Marvel Johnson.
Edmondson had his pick-six one play later, and the Lancers had all but sealed the win.
Player of the game
LJ Richardson, Notre Dame Prep: The junior quarterback scored two rushing touchdowns and passed for a third. More importantly, he led the Lancers in responding to a pair of New Fairfield touchdowns.
Quotable
“I was proud of the way we finished the game. The guys battled. We’re still a Class S school regardless of the playoff division they have us in. As you could see, our guys were banged up, cramping, playing both ways. That’s Notre Dame football — we fight till the end.”
— Notre Dame Prep coach John Johnson
Notre Dame Prep 43, New Fairfield 26
NEW FAIRFIELD 0 0 13 13 — 26NOTRE DAME PREP 7 7 7 22 — 43ND—LJ Richardson 4 run (Davis Syzmansky kick)ND—Ja’cari Harris 13 run (Syzmansky kick)NF—Hunter DeBellis 9 pass from Michael Traynor (Caio Ribeiro kick)ND—Richardson 51 run (Syzmansky kick)NF—Jack Ricco 29 pass from Traynor (kick failed)ND—Marvel Johnson 17 pass from Richardson (Syzmansky kick)ND—Jayce Edmondson 40 interception return (Syzmansky kick)NF—DeBellis 5 run (Ribeiro kick)ND—Harris 2 run (Harris run)NF—Jack Perun 15 pass from Traynor (pass failed)Records: New Fairfield 3-1; Notre Dame Prep 4-0.
Dave Stewart is a sports reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media Group who has been covering sports in Connecticut since 1996 and serves as the GameTimeCT writer for volleyball, girls hockey, wrestling and girls lacrosse. He has won multiple New England Newspaper & Press Association and Connecticut SPJ awards for writing and photography and is a member of the FCIAC Hall of Fame.