Benilde-St. Margaret's defender Nick Marinaro (52) grabs Orono quarterback Teddy Deters while being blocked in the first half Friday. Orono was called for holding on the play. Photo: David Joles * david.joles@startribune.com
It had been two years since Benilde-St. Margaret’s running back Joe Marinaro stepped on a football field on game night. Injuries – a broken leg and broken back – were the culprits, keeping the 5-11, 215-pound senior from doing what he loves most: Hit.
Marinaro took out two years of frustration Friday, rushing for 87 yards and touchdown, catching a 13-yard scoring pass, making six tackles and setting a physical tone for his team with relentless drive and big hits as the Red Knight defeated Orono 21-7.
“I just like to be physical and I love hitting,” Marinaro said. “I just wanted to come out and hit people tonight. That’s what I love doing.”
“He’s a horse,” Benilde-St. Margaret’s coach Jon Hanks said. “Credit to him. Two catastrophic-like injuries where most people would have said ‘I’m done playing football’ and he comes back and works so hard.”
The Red Knights took their cue from Marinaro, establishing a punishing, physical style of play that kept them close when nothing else was going right.
Through much of the first half, the offense hurt itself with fumbles, blocked kicks, penalties and an inability to make a big play when needed.
Orono, which was breaking in a new offense, struggled against the aggressive Red Knights front seven. But the Spartans took a 7-0 lead on a 67-yard scoring strike from Teddy Deters to Noah Arneson.
Photo gallery: Orono vs. Benilde-St. Margaret's
Benilde-St. Margaret’s went downfield crisply on its next possession. Marinaro ran 38 yards on the first play, delivering a blow at the end of the run that knocked an Orono defender back five yards and drew oohs from the crowd. But Orono’s defense, which played well all game, stood firm and stopped Marinaro on fourth-and-goal from the two to maintain the lead.
On its next possession, Benilde-St. Margaret’s finally broke through when Marinaro freight-trained up the middle for a 5-yard score, tying the game 7-7.
In the second half, the Red Knights seized momentum, punishing an out-of-synch Orono offense the first three times the Spartans had the ball, holding them to a negative 18 yards.
“We work on tackling every day,” Hanks said. “We’re not hitting a lot in practice but we’re working the fundamentals. It’s hit, wrap, run. We don’t just want to hit, we want to bring them down.”
The Red Knights took the lead for good when quarterback Nick Peterson hit Marinaro in the end zone for 13-yard touchdown and 14-7 lead.
With the lead in hand, and even with superstar Isaiah Smith out with a broken foot, the Red Knights’ depth at running back paid off. Sophomore Camden Royal bounced back from two first-half fumbles to rush for 101 yards and the Red Knights’ final touchdown. In total, Benilde-St. Margaret’s had six players combine to rush for 255 yards.
First report
For a little more than a quarter, Benilde-St. Margaret’s offense couldn’t do anything right. Fumbles, a blocked punt and penalties conspired to rob the Red Knights of whatever success they found.
Things turned around in the second quarter and the Red Knights pulled away from Orono for a 21-7 victory.
While the Red Knights took a little time to get their offense squared away, the defense was strong from the outset, throttling the Orono offense. Save for two long pass plays, the Spartans found little room against the attacking Benilde-St. Margaret’s defense.
Joe Marinaro rushed for a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass and Camden Royal bounced back from two fumbles to rush for 101 yards and a score for Benilde-St. Margaret’s.
Orono’s only score came on a 67-yard pass from Teddy Deters to Noah Arneson in the second quarter.
Check back later for more on the game.
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