Notre Dame commit recap: RB Markese Stepp returns with two TDs

Seventeen of Notre Dame’s 24 commits in the 2017 and 2018 classes took the field last week. ND Insider recaps the Irish pledges in action.

RB Markese Stepp and LB Pete Werner | Indianapolis Cathedral 20, Lawrence Central 17 (OT): Stepp’s entire junior season has been wrecked by a hamstring injury, but he returned on Friday night when Cathedral needed a lift. Stepp, who didn’t appear until late in the third quarter with his team trailing 14-0, took his first carry three yards for a touchdown. His second and final carry of the night came in overtime to clinch the victory with a 10-yard touchdown. Werner and the Irish defense held Lawrence Central scoreless in the second half and limited the Bears to a field goal in the first possession of overtime. Cathedral (7-4) will play Ben Davis (8-3) Friday for an IHSAA Class 6A regional championship.

TE Cole Kmet | Arlington Heights (Ill.) St. Viator 21, Lake Forest 24: Cole Kmet did a lot of the heavy lifting for St. Viator’s offense, but it wasn’t enough to extend his senior season. He caught 12 passes for 152 yards including a 14-yard touchdown during the late comeback effort in addition to playing defense end for the Lions (6-5).

WR Jordan Pouncey | Winter Park (Fla.) High 26, Olympia 12: Pouncey’s presence impacted the game in a number of ways as Winter Park finished the regular season with a win. Pouncey rushed nine times for 41 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for 19 yards. He added an interception, three pass breakups and a tackle on defense. Winter Park (7-4) will host Wekiva (7-3) in the first round of the FHSAA Class 8A playoffs on Friday.

RB CJ Holmes | Cheshire (Conn.) Academy 41, Deerfield Academy 21: Holmes rushed 12 times for 99 yards including a six-yard touchdown in the victory for Cheshire Academy (6-2).

TE Brock Wright | Cypress (Texas) Cy-Fair 56, Langham Creek 28: Wright caught three passes for 22 yards in the Cy-Fair victory. He also helped block for an offense that racked up 323 rushing yards. Cy-Fair (8-2) will take on Lamar (9-1) in the first round of the UIL Class 6A Division 1 playoffs on Friday.

OT Josh Lugg | Wexford (Pa.) North Allegheny 42, Hempfield 7: Lugg helped pave the way for 273 rushing yards and five touchdowns in the North Allegheny rout. He added two tackles and a sack on defense. The Tigers (9-2) will take on Seneca Valley (7-3) on Friday in a WPIAL Class 6A semifinal.

LB David Adams and DT Kurt Hinish | Pittsburgh (Pa.) Central Catholic 48, Norwin 0: Adams, Hinish and the Central Catholic defense combined for their third shutout of the season. Adams contributed on offense with a five-yard touchdown run and added an interception on defense. Hinish recorded one tackle. The Vikings (10-1) will take on Pine-Richland (7-4) in a WPIAL Class 6A semifinal on Friday.

OL Robert Hainsey | Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy 43, Chaminade-Madonna 0: Hainsey helped clear the way for an offense that tallied 354 yards in a blowout victory. IMG Academy (9-0) extended its winning streak to 27 games.

CB Paulson Adebo | Mansfield (Texas) High 42, North Crowley 7: Adebo accounted for more than half of Mansfield’s passing production with four catches for 73 yards in the blowout victory. Mansfield (8-2) will take on Fossil Ridge (7-3) Thursday in the first round of the UIL Class 6A Division 2 playoffs.

CB Elijah Hicks | La Mirada (Calif.) High 63, Mayfair 13: Hicks recorded three tackles as La Mirada cruised to clinch the Suburban League championship. The Matadores (8-2) will host Paso Robles (8-2) in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs on Friday.

LB Drew White | Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas 45, Flanagan 19: White tallied 10 tackles and a pass breakup in the regular season finale for St. Thomas Aquinas. The Raiders (7-2) will host Palm Beach Lakes (8-2) in the first round of the FHSAA Class 7A playoffs on Friday.

DT Darnell Ewell | Norfolk (Va.) Lake Taylor 40, Norcom 0: Ewell and the Lake Taylor defense registered their first shutout of the season and held an opponent to less than 10 points for the sixth time. After winning a district title, Lake Taylor (9-1) will play against Deep Creek (3-7) on Friday in the first round of the VHSL Class 4A playoffs.

DE Justin Ademilola and DT Jayson Ademilola | Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep 20, Don Bosco Prep 28:Justin Ademilola logged a pair of sacks in the loss to Don Bosco Prep. St. Peter’s Prep (6-3) will play against Delbarton (4-5) on Friday in the first round of the NJSIAA Non-Public, Group 4 playoffs.

DE Jonathon MacCollister | Orlando (Fla.) Bishop Moore 21, Lake Brantley 14: MacCollister and the Bishop Moore defense made a last-minute stop to preserve the victory. The Hornets (9-1) will host Merritt Island (7-3) on Friday in the first round of the FHSAA Class 5A playoffs.

Off week: WR Michael Young, LB Bo Bauer, OL Dillan Gibbons.

Sidelined: QB Avery Davis (undisclosed), QB Phil Jurkovec (thumb).

Season finished: LB Ovie Oghoufo, S Isaiah Robertson.

*Stats reported were provided by players, coaches or the following news organizations: MaxPreps, Indianapolis Star, Pioneer Press, NJ.com, Houston Chronicle.

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