Notre Dame safety Massimo Ryan's fumble recovery Saturday helped set up a touchdown and keep the Jugglers' defence perfect through five games following a shutout win at South Delta. (Photo property of Wilson Wong 2021. All Rights Reserved)
Feature High School Football

No. 3 AAA Notre Dame does it again on defence! After 34-0 win over South Delta, 5-0 Jugglers have still not allowed a single point!

TSAWWASSEN — If you want to let the numbers do the speaking, then the Notre Dame Jugglers did to the host South Delta Sun Devils what they have done to every team the East Vancouver school has faced this season.

No. 3-ranked Notre Dame, en route to winning all five of its games by shutout this season, have outscored the opposition 160-0 in the process.

That’s an average of 32-0.

On Saturday, they hit the road and beat the Sun Devils 34-0.

And, as Jugglers head coach Denis Kelly explained after the win, the success the team has had on that side of the ball has filtered positive vibes through to every other area of the club.

“Today, our defence was relentless in its pursuit, and it gang-tackled with passion all game long,” he said of the unit coached by defensive coordinator Jordan Liberman. “They have instilled great confidence in our team.”

The win improved Notre Dame to 3-0 in conference play, while South Delta dropped to 0-3 with the loss.

Notre Dame opened the scoring Saturday on its first possession of the game.

Slotback Anthony Amenta ran around left end for a 50 yard touchdown and Noah Banco’s conversion made it 7-0.

Shortly thereafter, a fumble recovery by safety Massimo Ryan set up a short four-yard touchdown run by Pedro Cabanas over the right side of the Jugglers’ line. Banco converted and the first quarter ended 14-0.

In the second quarter, Notre Dame marched down the field and again Cabanas took it to the  end zone, this time from three years out for a 21-0 lead.

Just before the half, quarterback Aiden Domino found wide receiver Antonio Conte on a 25-yard crossing pattern for a fourth major. Banco again converted and the halftime score was 28-0.

The third quarter was scoreless as the rain became a factor.

In the fourth quarter, the Jugglers put together a sustained drive mainly on the ground and Cabanas scored his third major of the game, this one from 10 yards out, although the convert was unsuccessful.

“We were quite happy with our performance today, and we had extra time to prepare after the STM forfeiture the week before,” Kelly added afterwards. “South Delta put forth a gutsy effort after several of their players sustained injuries.”

The clock, however, is already ticking on the team’s toughest game of the season thus far, this Friday (2 p.m.) against the No. 2-ranked Mt. Douglas Rams.

“We have no time to lose now,” said Kelly. “Mt. Douglas looms on Friday. Thus far we have not faced anyone of that size and calibre. It will be a real indicator of our progress as a team and provide us with a great challenge.”

Justin Zabudsky and Joshua Cloete each finished with seven tackles for the Sun Devils.

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