Notre Dame commit recap: Isaiah Rutherford, defensive recruits impress
It was Notre Dame’s defensive recruits that shined over the weekend. ND Insider recaps how 21 commits fared last week.
• 2019 CB Isaiah Rutherford | Carmichael (Calif.) Jesuit 48, Pleasant Grove 21: Finally back to normal from an illness, Rutherford registered two rushing touchdowns and hauled in a pass for a score. He finished with eight carries for 50 yards and 46 receiving yards on three grabs. Rutherford also recorded three tackles.
The Marauders (7-3) fell short from a Delta League title because of their overtime loss to Sheldon. Rutherford’s squad will host Woodcreek on Saturday to begin playoff action.
• 2019 LB Osita Ekwonu | Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day 32, Charlotte Christian 33: Ekwonu’s 28 carries for 220 yards and three touchdowns were not enough to fend off Charlotte Christian. The Chargers (5-5) lost in the final seconds, as the Knights completed their 26-6 comeback.
Ekwonu shined on both ends, recording 10 tackles and also catching two passes for 25 yards. Providence Day has an immediate rematch with unbeaten Charlotte Christian. The two clash again on Friday to begin playoff action.
• 2019 DT Jacob Lacey | Bowling Green (Ky.) South Warren 42, Owensboro Catholic 12: Lacey logged another monstrous outing, recording seven tackles, five TFLs, three sacks and two forced fumbles. The Spartans (10-0) will challenge their perfection again on Friday — this time in playoff action against Apollo.
• 2019 WR Kendall Abdur-Rahman | Edwardsville (Ill.) High 44, Evanston 27: Abdur-Rahman’s second half rushing touchdowns of 54 and 78 yards provided enough cushion for Edwardsville to pull away. He finished with 202 rushing yards — 141 of which came in the second half — in the opening playoff round. The Tigers (7-3) will host West Aurora (9-1) on Saturday.
• 2020 QB Drew Pyne | New Canaan (Conn.) High 42, Pascack Valley (N.J.) 7: Pyne continued his streak of efficiency, throwing for 239 yards on just eight completions. He went 8-of-12 and threw three touchdowns. Pyne’s pair of runs went for 23 yards. Junior Zach Lapolice was the recipient of Pyne’s longest touchdown connection of 66 yards.
When the lights come on, New Canaan (CT) 2020 QB @dpyne10 lights it up!!!
The Notre Dame commit has unique twitch & suddenness to go along with a relentless competitive nature.
JR HL here https://t.co/OxZqNGUOSz
Preview the Quick Stroke here pic.twitter.com/Da7Mm172zG
— QB Country (@QBCountry) October 25, 2018
• 2019 DE Howard Cross III | Montvale (N.J.) St. Joseph Regional 16, St. Peter’s Prep 7: Cross amassed 10 tackles and three TFLs in one of his most dominant performances this season. His team's defense held St. Peter’s Prep to 54 rushing yards on 21 carries and 188 passing yards. The Green Knights (7-2) placed second — giving them a first-round bye — in a three-way tie between St. Peter’s Prep and Bergen Catholic.
• 2020 TE Michael Mayer | Park Hills (Ky.) Covington Catholic 28, Campbell County 0: Mayer found the end zone twice against Campbell Count — the first on a 49-yard reception and the other on a 20-yard snag. He finished with five catches for 138 yards. The Colonels (10-0) face Woodford County on Friday to begin their playoffs.
• 2019 DT Hunter Spears | Sachse (Texas) High 49, Lakeview 36: While Spears and his defense surrendered a lot of points, they also registered 11 TFLs and 19 quarterback hurries. The 6-4, 280-pounder recorded six tackles, one TFL, three quarterback hurries and a pass deflection.
Spears also had one of Sachse’s four fumble recoveries. The Mustangs (5-3) play South Garland next week before their regular season finale at Rowlett — a contest that will likely decide the district’s champion.
• 2019 LB Jack Kiser | Royal Center (Ind.) Pioneer 74, Carroll 0: Channeling his inner Tua Tagovailoa of Alabama, Kiser has hardly played in the fourth quarter this season — or second half, for that matter. His six runs against Carroll turned into 107 yards and three touchdowns — one of which was of 62 yards. Kiser also completed a 44-yard pass.
The Panthers (11-0) registered their ninth shutout and own a 692-25 advantage over opponents this season. They will clash with Lafayette Central Catholic for a sectional championship on Friday.
• 2019 QB Brendon Clark | Midlothian (Va.) Manchester 70, Hermitage 0: Clark’s fewer than one quarter of action did not stop Manchester from handing Hermitage its worst loss in school history. The Lancers (9-0) scored 49 points in the opening quarter and entered halftime with a 70-0 advantage.
Clark had a touchdown through the air and on the ground in the rainy contest. He remains interception-less with a 22-0 TD-INT ratio. Clark will close out the season on Friday, as Manchester will host Wythe.
• 2019 CB K.J. Wallace | Atlanta Lovett 41, Redan 6: The Lions (4-5) secured a playoff berth thanks to Wallace. His 85 rushing yards and two touchdowns came on five attempts. Wallace also recorded a tackle.
• 2019 DE NaNa Osafo-Mensah | Fort Worth (Texas) Nolan Catholic 42, Midland Christian 13: Nolan Catholic’s defense yielded touchdowns on the first two possessions, allowing 132 yards and seven first downs. For the remainder of the half, though, the Vikings (7-1) allowed just 84 yards.
Osafo-Mensah’s four tackles, one sack, one pass deflection and three quarterback hurries helped the Vikings tally 42 unanswered points — including a 28-point second quarter.
• 2019 S Litchfield Ajavon | Alexandria (Va.) Episcopal 6, Georgetown Prep (Md.) 24: Ajavon had solid production, recording nine tackles. His contribution was not enough for the Maroons (5-2), losers of two straight games.
• 2019 WR Cam Hart | Olney (Md.) Good Counsel 31, Bishop McNamara 0: Pouring rain limited Good Counsel to just a few passes on the night. Hart's injuries kept him in limited action as well. The Falcons (6-3) receive a bye before starting the playoffs.
• 2019 OL Zeke Correll | Cincinnati (OH) Anderson 36, Loveland 13: The good news is Correll’s push helped the Redskins (7-3) secure a playoff berth. Their opening postseason game, however, will be at Kings High School on Friday. The Knights (9-1) dropped Correll’s squad 35-14 in a Sept. 14 Eastern Cincinnati Conference game. Kings’ lone loss came to Michael Mayer’s Covington Catholic.
• 2019 S Kyle Hamilton | Atlanta Marist 7, Blessed Trinity 10: A rematch from last year’s state championship game lived up to the hype. Notre Dame linebacker prospect J.D. Bertrand’s squad was victorious again, limiting Hamilton’s Marist to 86 total yards. Hamilton caught just one pass for 14 yards.
Marist’s only points came on a 14-yard pick-six in the first quarter. The War Eagles (8-2) already clinched a postseason berth, but their playoff schedule has yet to be announced.
• 2019 OL Andrew Kristofic | Gibsonia (Pa.) Pine-Richland 7, North Allegheny 27: Kristofic’s blocking allowed senior Luke Meckler to rush for 114 yards on 28 carries. Quarterback Cole Spencer had 20 carries for 41 yards and a touchdown. North Allegheny was shutout for nearly three quarters but scored 27 unanswered points.
The Tigers relied on a steady ground attack and ran for 345 yards. Although the loss knocked the Rams (8-2) to second, they still receive a first round bye in the playoffs.
• 2019 OL John Olmstead | Metuchen (N.J.) St. Joseph 28, Kennedy Memorial 0: Olmstead helped St. Joseph outgain Kennedy Memorial 211-66 in total yards. Senior running back Jordan Davis cooled off with 32 yards on 14 carries, but he ran for a 9-yard score. The Falcons (7-2) have a bye before squaring off with St. Peter’s Prep in the playoffs.
• 2019 OL Quinn Carroll | Edina (Minn.) High 43, Farmington 26: Carroll paved the way for Edina’s 355 rushing yards. By advancing through the opening round of the playoffs, the Hornets (7-2) next clash with St. Michael-Albertville.
• 2020 TE Kevin Bauman | Red Bank (N.J.) Catholic 38, Middletown North 28: Bauman missed last Friday’s game with a back injury. His teammate, Kevin Degnan, picked up the slack with four touchdowns to help Red Bank Catholic remain unbeaten. The Caseys (8-0) earned a first-round bye for the playoffs. Bauman told ND Insider he should be good to go by the playoff opener.
Byes: RB Kyren Williams, P Jay Bramblett.
*Stats were provided by players, parents, coaches, MaxPreps and the following news organizations: WTVR-TV, Charlotte Observer, Edwardsville Intelligencer, Bergen Record, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, TribLIVE and Bowling Green Daily News.
