Marquette Crusaders Crush St. Bede, 42-7, in Dominant Performance

UPDATE: The Marquette Crusaders delivered a commanding performance in the Chicagoland Prairie Conference, overpowering St. Bede with a decisive 42-7 victory on October 13, 2023. This win keeps Marquette’s hopes alive for a conference championship as they demonstrated exceptional dominance on both offense and defense.

The game opened with both teams struggling offensively, forcing early punts. However, Marquette’s momentum shifted when Grant Dose made pivotal plays on third and fourth downs, including an 11-yard run that extended a crucial drive. Quarterback Anthony Couch quickly capitalized, connecting with Blayden Cassel for a 28-yard touchdown, putting Marquette ahead 6-0.

The Crusaders’ defense proved impenetrable, stifling St. Bede’s attempts to move the ball. On a critical third-and-9, the Bruins managed only six yards, leading to a sack by Luke McCullough that handed the ball back to Marquette. The Crusaders seized the opportunity, with Couch finding Connor Baker for a 19-yard completion, and Jaxsen Higgins adding a 10-yard run to maintain their momentum.

Marquette showcased its offensive prowess as Couch scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, extending their lead to 14-0 after a successful two-point conversion. Coach Ken Carlson praised the team’s mentality, stating, “We always talk about the mentality of the next play.”

As the game progressed, St. Bede struggled to respond, unable to find rhythm against a relentless Marquette defense. The Crusaders continued to dominate on third downs, leading to another touchdown when Couch connected with Easton DeBernardi for a 15-yard score, pushing the lead to 20-0.

The Bruins’ troubles compounded as they faced a third-and-long situation, unable to convert and forced to punt again. Marquette struck quickly, with Dose breaking free for a spectacular 55-yard touchdown reception, closing the half with a commanding 28-0 lead.

Despite St. Bede’s efforts, including a 3-yard touchdown run from Landon Marquez that brought the score to 36-7, Marquette responded immediately. Higgins electrified the crowd with an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, sealing the game at 42-7.

Marquette’s offensive highlights included Dose, who finished with 82 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown, while Couch completed 7 of 12 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns. The Bruins were led by Hirst’s 43 yards on the ground, while Ferrari struggled, going 6 of 18 for just 32 yards passing.

Looking ahead, Marquette (3-2, 2-0) will host Seneca (5-0, 1-0) next Friday, while St. Bede (2-3, 0-1) will aim to regroup at home against Dwight on Saturday. As the season progresses, the spotlight remains on Marquette’s quest for the conference title and St. Bede’s effort to bounce back from this defeat.