McNicholas football downs Bethel-Tate, advances to Region 16 semis

Pat Brennan, Cincinnati Enquirer

November 5, 2021 at 11:48 PM·5 min read

The final play of the first half between the Archbishop McNicholas Rockets and the Bethel-Tate Tigers typified the entire game.

Having just recovered a muffed kickoff by the sixth-seeded Tigers, McNicholas senior quarterback Pierce Taylor hit junior tight end Jay Dietz in the end zone.

The game clock read all zeroes. The touchdown was the best possible way for third-seeded McNicholas to go into the intermission in front of its home fans, and it pushed the game into running clock territory for the start of the second half.

McNicholas defensive back Isaiah Helphinstine (21) reacts after recovering a kick return against Bethel-Tate in the first half at McNicholas High School. Nov. 5, 2021

That sequence was one of several examples of McNicholas (10-1 overall) punishing Bethel-Tate miscues in a 49-13 Rockets victory Friday at Penn Station Stadium in an OHSAA Division IV state tournament Region 16 quarterfinal.

More: Week 12 Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky high school football scores

More: Here is the Cincinnati Enquirer's high school sports postseason coverage, Nov. 1-7

McNicholas will next face No. 2-seeded Eaton (11-1 overall) at 7 p.m. Nov. 12. The neutral-field venue wasn't announced by OHSAA late Friday.

Bethel-Tate quarterback Cameron Snider (12) runs with the ball against McNicholas in the second half at McNicholas High School. Nov. 5, 2021

"A win's a win. By 36 points or one point, we'll take it," McNicholas head coach Mike Orlando said afterward. "I thought our kids came out and did what we asked them to do ... We got some things figured out. Our defense played lights-out. I loved our effort. If we get that on a weekly basis, we'll be OK."

For McNicholas, junior running back Tyler Snyder scored twice on the ground while senior Isaiah Helphinstine blocked a punt in the first quarter and returned a second-half interception 65 yards for a score on the other side of halftime.

McNicholas tight end Jack Suttles (45) runs with the ball past Bethel-Tate safety Hank Williams (21) in the first half at McNicholas High School. Nov. 5, 2021

Taylor ran for a touchdown and passed for three, and enjoyed watching most of the second half from the bench as Orlando pulled his starters with time to spare.

Defensively, the Tigers notched six turnovers and didn't allow Bethel-Tate to score until its ninth possession of the game.

Orlando said the defensive showing was one of McNicholas' best of 2021, adding, "We've played better technically. Fitting the right run fits and communication, and that sort of thing. The result is probably one of the best."

Bethel-Tate running back Mikey Molloy (5) runs with the ball past McNicholas defensive back Brady OÕBrien (5) in the second half at McNicholas High School. Nov. 5, 2021

Tigers sophomore quarterback Cameron Snider completed his lone touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter to senior Ethan Carter.

Senior back Mikey Molloy added another score on a dive from two yards out with 2:11 left in regulation for Bethel-Tate.

In what was the first-ever meeting between the schools, Bethel-Tate's late tallies only offered consolation.

McNicholas quarterback Pierce Taylor (8) runs with the ball against Bethel-Tate in the first half at McNicholas High School. Nov. 5, 2021

The Tigers, who were champions of the Southern Buckeye Conference's National Division, finished their season at 9-2 and matched a program record for single-season wins.

"These (seniors) mean everything to this program with where we're trying to take it," Tigers head coach Jeff Essig said. "There's a lot of four-year starters ... Luckily, we have some other great kids that are younger that are going to fill some spots but the seniors' legacy that they're leaving is something for these kids to be proud of, and something for these younger kids to see that 'hey, man, we can do this.'"

Bethel-Tate wide receiver Ethan Carter (4) catches a kick return against McNicholas in the second half at McNicholas High School. Nov. 5, 2021

Bethel-Tate's senior class departed their program having only lost four league games.

The McNicholas' seniors can nitpick Friday's performance ahead of the Eaton showdown.

"I couldn't be more happy," Taylor said. "Last game ever that the seniors will play here (at Penn Station Stadium). I thought we played really well together tonight and just gelled. You know, it's kind of bittersweet not getting to play here anymore but we went out with a bang, and I'm so grateful for it."

Late in the first quarter, McNicholas opened the scoring. The Rockets marched 60 yards over 10 plays with Snyder finishing off the last three yards. His dive into the end zone, along with the extra point conversion by freshman kicker Rollie Gabriel, put the hosts up, 7-0.

McNicholas wide receiver Benjamin Bobo (6) runs with the ball past Bethel-Tate linebacker Norman Darnell Jr. (33) in the first half at McNicholas High School. Nov. 5, 2021

Gabriel went 6-for-6 on his point-after kicks prior to giving way to Carson Zurmehly, who converted his lone attempt after the Tigers' final scoring drive.

Midway through the second quarter, Taylor steered a scoring drive forward almost entirely by himself after the McNicholas defense stuffed a fourth-down run attempt by Bethel-Tate, giving the Rockets the ball at midfield.

Taylor had runs of 25 and 19 yards, respectively, with the latter ending up in the end zone.

McNicholas running back Tyler Snyder (2) dives in for a touchdown against Bethel-Tate in the first half at McNicholas High School. Nov. 5, 2021

With less than three minutes to play in the first half, Taylor struck again, this time through the air as he connected with junior receiver Ben Bobo on passing touchdowns on consecutive drives.

The second of those scores came with 35 seconds remaining until half, and they still weren't done.

The ensuing kickoff was bobbled and spilled out by the Tigers, and McNicholas used that opportunity to set up the Dietz score as time expired on the first half.

Immediately out of the break, Bethel-Tate continued to turn the ball over. An interception eventually led to a 51-yard touchdown run by Snyder.

McNicholas tight end James Dietz (80) catches a pass in the end zone against Bethel-Tate in the first half at McNicholas High School. Nov. 5, 2021

The next interception tossed away by Bethel-Tate ended up in Helphinstine's hands. He then zigged and zagged on his 65-yard return to the end zone.

That score marked the end of the Rockets' scoring, but also of keeping Bethel-Tate off the scoreboard.

The Tigers used their next two possession to breakup the McNicholas shutout, and to close the final margin.

Taylor returned to the game on the final possession to bleed out what little remained on the game clock.

"I think we did a great job tonight," Taylor said, "but I think we can always be better."

BETHEL-TATE 0 0 6 7 13

MCNICHOLAS 7 28 14 0 49

M - Snyder 3-yard run (Gabriel kick)

M - Taylor 19-yard run (Gabriel kick)

M - Taylor 12-yard pass to Bobo (Gabriel kick)

M - Taylor 31-yard pass to Bobo (Gabriel kick)

M - Taylor 29-yard pass to Dietz (Gabriel kick)

M - Snyder 51-yard run (Gabriel kick)

M - Helphinstine 65-yard INT return (Zurmehly kick)

B - Snider 26-yard pass to Carter (kick failed)

B - Molloy 2-yard run (Sandker kick)

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: McNicholas downs Bethel-Tate, advances to Region 16 semis

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