Spartans put up a good fight in loss to Arlington Catholic

LYNN ?St. Mary’s hopes of winning the Catholic Central League Large conference hit a minor snag on Saturday night. Despite a valiant effort by the Spartans, a touchdown with only 5.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter was the difference as the defending Division 3A Super Bowl champion Arlington Catholic prevailed with a 12-6 win.”You really have to tip your hat to (Arlington Catholic),” St. Mary’s coach Matt Durgin said. “We absolutely played as well as we could have. I still believe that we have a very good team.”The Spartans (4-2) were the first to put points on the scoreboard. After Nick Day got a step on his defender on a fade route, quarterback Cam Mulvey delivered a strike for a 31-yard touchdown pass.”I knew our kids were ready to go (at that point),” said Durgin. “When you play a champion like (the Cougars) you’re never completely sure. However, from start to finish our team played very well.”Arlington Catholic (4-1) didn’t take too long to strike back. On only the second play from scrimmage for the Cougars, running back Charlie Bates made good on his hype and broke off a 67-yard touchdown run.After the miscue, St. Mary’s really stepped up on the defensive side of the game. Outside linebacker Stevie Carroll was all over the field making plays. Todd Collier who manned the other side also had a very strong game and even had an interception. Corey Bartlett added a fumble recovery.”It’s hard to single out any player (on defense),” said Durgin. “They all left it all out on the field. The defense really played very well.”The Spartans got into a bit of trouble in the fourth quarter as they were forced to punt from their own end zone. Bates, who had been kept fairly quiet since the first-quarter touchdown, took over the game after being given great field position.”(Arlington Catholic) pretty much rode Bates down the field,” said Durgin.St. Mary’s forced a fourth-and-goal at the three-yard line with the clock as its best friend. However, Bates broke the plain and delivered the late touchdown for the Cougars.”Our kids need to know,” said Durgin, “that this is the type of effort we need to compete in the league each week.”