Notre Dame commit recap: RB Markese Stepp runs wild in season debut

High school football season officially started in a number of states across the country. Five Notre Dame commits took the field Friday night to start their own seasons.

ND Insider recaps how all five Irish pledges fared in their debuts.

• RB Markese Stepp | Indianapolis Cathedral 28, St. Xavier 35: Stepp carried the load for Cathedral’s offense, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with St. Xavier. Stepp rushed 18 times for 203 yards and three touchdowns, including a 73-yard score. On a seven-yard touchdown run, Stepp barreled through a defender at the goal line.

• RB Jahmir Smith | Sanford (N.C.) Lee County 35, Northwood 0: Smith didn’t waste much time finding the end zone in his first game of the season. He scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in the first half of a runaway victory. Smith broke through several tackle attempts on a 12-yard touchdown and later punched in a one-yard score. He finished the game with 149 yards on 21 carries.

S Derrik Allen | Marietta (Ga.) Lassiter 45, John’s Creek 21: Allen and his teammates turned defense into offense twice in a Lassiter win. The Trojans returned a fumbled snap and an errant pass for touchdowns. Allen tallied more than 10 tackles, three pass breakups, an interception and returned a punt for 35 yards.

• OL Cole Mabry | Brentwood (Tenn.) High 14, Franklin 10: Mabry helped pave the way for 291 yards of offense in a Brentwood victory. The Bruins took a 14-0 lead in the second quarter on a five-yard touchdown run to Mabry’s side at left tackle.

• DT Jacob Lacey | Bowling Green (Ky.) South Warren 35, Hopkinsville 14: Lacey combined for seven tackles, four tackles for a loss and a sack in a strong defensive performance for South Warren. The Spartans only allowed 20 rushing yards on 20 carries.

*Stats reported were provided by players, coaches or the following news organizations: MaxPreps, Indianapolis Star, The Sanford Herald, Marietta Daily Journal and Kentucky New Era.