December 8, 2022
Chat with Coach Bonis #12: Carencro Review, John Curtis Preview
by Brother Neal Golden, S.C. (CJ ’57)
"The Crusaders limped into the Select Division I playoffs with a 5-5 record and three straight losses (by 13 total points). You would have been branded a “cockeyed optimist” if you thought Brother Martin would extend their streak of four seasons making the semifinals, much less the finals.
After three straight victories at Tad Gormley Stadium, Brother Martin hit the road to Carencro to play the #8-ranked Bears. The Crusaders had made that trip during the 2021 regular season and knocked off the home team 35-6. Bears QB Chantz Ceaser suffered a knee injury in that game in the second quarter and did not return. However, he was at full strength this season in leading the Bears to a 9-2 record, including playoff victories over #9 Acadiana and #1 Warren Easton.
Carencro controlled the first half, possessing the ball for 19:54 to Martin’s 4:06, but led just 17-14 at halftime
Ceaser led the Bears 80 yards in 17 plays on their first possession that consumed 8:45 and produced a 7-0 lead.
But the Crusaders answered in just three plays as senior RB Torey Lambert burst through the line for 50 yards, then ran in from the 15 two plays later to tie the score with 2:13 left in the opening period.
Carencro responded with a 72 yard drive, but the Crimson defense held the Bears to a 25 yard field goal for a 10-7 lead.
The Crusaders needed just five plays to go 65 yards with Lambert scoring from the 24 to make it 14-10 with 8:26 left in the half.
The seesaw game continued when the Bears went back in front 17-14 on an 11 yard pass from Ceaser to Keevon George to culminate a 10-play, 83 yard drive.
Carencro had a chance to add to their lead when Lambert lost a fumble at the BM 18. But the Crusader defense forced a field goal attempt that sailed wide.
Martin was fortunate to be only three points behind at halftime considering the Bears had 40 offensive snaps to just 11 for the Crusaders.
The second half didn’t start well for the visitors. Martin’s opening possession ended with a punt, and the Bears drove 53 yards in eight plays to take their first two-score lead of the night, 24-14 with 5:43 left in the third quarter.
No one would have predicted what happened the rest of the game. The Crusaders, who had started the playoffs by falling behind Woodlawn 20-0 in the first quarter, scored 41 straight points in the final 17:43 of the contest.
On the second play after Carencro’s touchdown, Clayton Lonardo took the snap, faked a handoff to Lambert, then tore around left end, turned the corner, and outraced all defenders down the sideline for a 64 yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 24-21 with 5:22 left in the third quarter.
The defense forced the first Carencro punt of the game, which put the Crusaders in a hole at their own three. No problem. Five plays later, Martin took the lead thanks to an 84 yard touchdown run by Lambert. 28-24 Martin with 43 seconds left in the third quarter.
Coach Mark Bonis took a page out of Sean Payton’s playbook when the Saints coach started the second half of the Super Bowl with a daring onside kick. If it doesn’t work, the opponent has outstanding field position. But Leyton Liuzza’s dribble kick was perfect, and he fell on the ball after it went the required 10 yards.
Two plays later, the final period started with QB Seth Dazet firing to Lonardo on a 47 yard catch and run to give the Crusaders their first two-score lead, 35-24 with 11:51 left to play.
DE Brenden LeBlanc’s sack forced a Carencro punt, and Martin was right back in business at the Bears' 47. It took seven plays this time to add to the lead, with Lambert doing the honors from the 31 to make it 42-24 with 7:55 remaining.
The desperate Bears went for it on fourth-and-three at their 27 but failed. Four plays later from the 18, Lambert broke loose and sprinted into the end zone to expand the lead to a head-spinning 49-24 with 4:23 left.
Carencro finally mounted a drive and reached the Martin 14, hoping to get a face-saving touchdown. But DB Gregory Jackson intercepted a pass, picked up a convoy of blockers, and raced down the sideline 95 yards as the clock ran out to make the final margin 55-24.
Lambert finished with 297 yards on 23 carries for an incredible 12.9 yards per play and five touchdowns.
The game was a tale of two halves. Carencro outgained the Crusaders 253-131 in the first half, but Martin turned the tables in the second half, 291-164.
The Crusaders finally reached the finals after six semifinal appearances. Their opponent Saturday night will be district rival John Curtis, which defeated the Crusaders 23-14 on October 28. It will be the fourth time a pair of Catholic League teams meet for a state championship. Holy Cross defeated Jesuit 14-6 in 1963, Brother Martin beat St. Augustine 23-0 in 1971, and St. Augustine edged Jesuit 13-7 in 1978.
The 2022 Brother Martin Crusaders have provided an example that LHSAA coaches can cite for inspiration when their low-ranked teams enter the playoffs.
Asked if he is surprised that the team reached the finals, Coach Mark Bonis said, “I had confidence in our staff and young men. When the playoffs started, I really liked our draw.”
The Crusaders got to play the first three games in Tad Gormley Stadium. “Then you go on the road, and it’s a place you’ve been before and are familiar with.”
What were your thoughts when Carencro came out in the third quarter and took a 24-14 lead?
“Nothing different. We still had time. We had been down before in bigger fashion. Let’s get back to work. That’s our kids’ mindset.
“We knew at halftime that they had four of their key players going both ways for the second week in a row. If we can get to the fourth quarter, we pride ourselves on finishing. That’s something that you’re trained to do. It’s who you are, based on your culture.
“We had only 20 offensive snaps in the game but scored 49 points. We’ve never had that type of efficiency before. I would love to carry that efficiency into the state championship game.”
Aren’t our offense and defense operating at a higher level than when we played Curtis the first time?
“You’d hope we are. I told Coach Curtis at a media event yesterday that a month ago, I don’t know that many people had Brother Martin and John Curtis playing for the state championship. It speaks to program principles and what your program stands for. Although our kids were very excited after the Carencro game and rightfully so, there hasn’t been a mindset of being happy just to be there.
“We’re playing one of the premier programs in the state with the winningest high school coach in the country. I wouldn’t have it any other way. You want to play the best.”
Told that the Crusaders are the lowest seed (#13) among the 16 teams who have made this weekend’s championship games, Bonis replied, “That’s awesome. I take that as a compliment.”
As for the onside kick in the second half, “people have said it was a gutsy call. But I don’t think it was that gutsy a call for us. We knew going into the game it was there. I wanted to kick it the time before, but Coach Norris held off and timed it better on the ensuing kickoff. Their guys were bailing out. Using our analytics, we liked it (the onside kick) going into the game, and knowing the situation, we really liked it. We’ve been working on it all year. I’m proud that our kids executed it. You’re excited, but you have to take advantage of the opportunity. We got on a roll offensively. We made Carencro become one-dimensional in something they don’t like to do (passing).”
Was that our first onside kick of the season? “Yes. For whatever reason, it stayed in our bag of tricks all year. It was just the right time.”
Does it help that we played our championship game opponent earlier this season? “They’re familiar with us, and we’re familiar with them. It helps us a little bit that Carencro had some similarities in their offense with what Curtis does.
“The game will come down to execution and situational football. Turnovers are the #1 key as well as converting third downs. We had a key fourth down when we played them in October with a chance to possibly go down and take the lead. They stopped us and scored to make it a two-possession game.
“If they get in the red zone, we have to hold them to field goals. We have to get touchdowns when we get in the red zone, not field goals. If you get turnovers, you have to make the most out of them.
“The first game, we had a minimal number of snaps, in the 40s when we’re usually in the 60-70 range.
“When you play Curtis, you’ve got to be mentally tough and physically tough.”
Crusader Nation will be well represented in the Superdome Saturday night for Brother Martin’s first appearance in a state football final since 1989."
Tickets are only available for purchase online via Ticketmaster. Be sure to join us in support of the Brother Martin football team vs. John Curtis at the Caesars Superdome on Saturday, December 10 at 7 PM!
