Despite 6-0 halftime deficit, Lourdes cannot keep up with Monroe-Woodbury in 26-6 loss.

"If you don't think you can play with these guys, hand in your equipment and leave," said Lourdes Warriors Head Coach Sean Keenan at halftime.

On their first possession of the game, Monroe Woodbury made it 6-0 off a handoff from Crusaders starting quarterback Ethan Maldonado to running back Braylon Shillingford.

"Anything my team needs me to do, I got to do what I got to do," said Shillingford.

The extra point kicked by the Crusaders was blocked keeping the game at 6-0.

"Anything my team needs me to do, I got to do what I got to do," said Shillingford.

On a 2nd down and 15 from the Monroe Woodbury 35, the Lourdes Warriors thought they had tied up the game.

A touchdown pass that was beautifully thrown from Jack Savona, to Dane Bryan, over the middle, was called back for an illegal procedure.

There was no scoring by either team for the rest of the half.

Lourdes had the ball and was advancing down the field towards the end of the half; however, Savona threw an interception to Monroe Woodbury defensive back Hunter Crouther.

At halftime, the Warriors were hoping to get themselves back in the game, only down by six; however would not be able to do so.

Right at the beginning of the third quarter, Maldonado delivered to Liam Hayes for a touchdown.

At the 3:28 mark of the third quarter, Maldonado handed the ball off to Nate Coulanges, in what would be the first of two touchdowns, the second one being at the 9:02 mark of the fourth quarter.

"We just got to finish out the game," said Coulanges, "we started out slow and we have to pick it up."

"We had to make sure we stood right on their heads and not let them get in our heads," said Maldonado, "we had to play as hard as we can one hundred percent of the game.

Lourdes' only touchdown came at the 3:25 mark of the last period, as Savona's pass would be caught one-handed by Warriors receiver James Krauza.

Senior captain Noah Flores spoke highly about his team's performance.

"We worked and hustled as a team, and everybody was accountable for themself," said Flores, so next game we are going to treat it the same and put in the same energy."

Lourdes Assistant Coach Jimmy Fedigan had some input about the Warriors performance.

"I think we had a few breakdowns in special teams that gave them very short fields," said Fedigan

"We gave them a thirty yard field and a forty yard field," he said. "Special teams let us down early in the half, and Monroe-Woodbury was able to capitalize."

"Our guys gave it everything they had," he said, "and we're playing against a school five times our size.”

“They played hard, and they're a physical team," said Fedigan. "We could have been up 8-6 easily at the half."

"I think we fought,” said Keenan, “they just wore us down. I have zero issue with the effort. They're three and a half more times more kids in that school”

“For them to have to play a school of the same ratio,” said Keenan, “they would have to play a school like John Jay and Arlington combined.”

Keenan does not think last year’s 58-33 home win over Goshen will give him hope for next week’s game.

“They have a lot of dudes coming back, we’re beat up right now, and it’s our first league game,” he said.

“We have to play well, or they're going to defeat us.”

Up next

Monroe-Woodbury Crusaders (1-1)

The Crusaders will head to Cornwall to take on the Dragons in a Friday September 19th matchup at 7 PM. The Dragons are coming off a 17-14 road win over Newburgh.

Our Lady of Lourdes Warriors (1-1)

The Warriors will head to Goshen to take on the Gladiators in a Friday September 19th matchup at 7 PM. The Gladiators are coming off of a 48-28 win over Kingston on the road.