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Notre Dame defensive Tyler Enos (21) purses Signal Mountain's Skye Wilson (11.RINGGOLD, Ga. - Notre Dame scored 21 second-half points but laid claim to District 7-AA's top spot with a pair of first-half goal-line stands that set the tone and changed the complexion of a game between state-ranked opponents.
"We got inside the dadgone red zone three times and didn't score the first half. That was the difference in the ballgame. We didn't finish off drives," said Signal Mountain coach Bill Price, whose team falls to 6-1 overall and 2-1 in the district.
The final score was 35-3, and the 32-point spread one of the worst beatings an Eagles team coached by Price has absorbed.
The Eagles took the opening kickoff and used six minutes to get inside the Notre Dame 5-yard line. Along the way, though, they lost sophomore sensation Skye Wilson with what is thought to be a torn MCL in his left knee. Signal's bread-and-butter back gained 40 yards on six carries before he was injured.
Regardless, the Irish turned the Eagles away.
Signal Mountain held and got the ball back with another opportunity inside the Notre Dame 5, and again the Irish were up to the challenge.
"Signal Mountain brings out the best in us," Irish coach Charles Fant said after Notre Dame secured its first-ever win over the Eagles. "That first drive when they took it all the way down the field, I knew we were in a game, but our kids just had a different desire tonight. They were willing to bend but not break.
"It helps, though, having that extra week to prepare, and we had the best week and a half of practice we've had all year."
It helped, too, having Joe Dossett back. The senior tackle, out since the Chattanooga Christian game almost four weeks ago, had a pair of lost-yardage tackles and a sack.
"Joe has had terrible luck with injuries and we kept him out with that sprain, wanting him to be back for this one," Fant said. "He really anchors our line up front, and he was getting penetration all night long and then started drawing double- and triple-teams."
Dossett was more than willing to share the credit.
"It's just a lot of hard work from a lot of people," he said. "We have a great defensive coordinator, Coach Bo Campbell, and a good coaching staff. When we do what we're coached to do we have nights like this, and this is the best the defense has played this year."
While the defense did its part, especially inside its own 10, the offense and the special teams also were clicking on all cylinders.
Quarterback Alex Darras, turning in his best game of the year also -- 8-14-0, 141 yards -- hooked up with standout wide receiver Kareem Orr for the Irish's first two touchdowns on passes of 66 and 14 yards. Orr finished with 112 receiving yards while running back Auston Banks ran for 155 yards, including a 47-yard dash.
Gathering in a Signal Mountain pass -- tipped by Patrick Johnson -- Anthony Flemister made it 28-3 with a 41-yard interception return, and Jared Andrews put the final nail in the Eagles' coffin with a 50-yard punt return.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.