The Buzz on Bethel-Notre Dame

Photos to come. Video not to come.

Simply put, Notre Dame looked very good, Bethel did not. I think there was a lot of hype about the Wildcats based on its 6-game win streak to end the season, but they have been hit by graduations.

Notre Dame is supposed to be on a downswing because it has a small junior class. The Lancers just aren't listening.

I love this sophomore at quarterback, Mike Bartell. The kid is tough and poised, and you couldn't tell he was starting his first game under center.

What had to help was Alex Muniz's return of the opening kickoff for a touchdown to get the early lead.

Said senior captain Sly Accettullo, "We knew we needed a big play, whether it was a kickoff return, a fade pass for a touchdown, a long interception return, to get us going."

Here's the article I submitted for The News-Times (it's not online):

By Tim Parry

FAIRFIELD – The 2007 football season began on a sour note for Bethel, right from the start, with a 22-0 loss at Notre Dame-Fairfield.

Lancers senior receiver Alex Muniz returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown, and it was all downhill from there.

“Their line just beat us off the ball,” said Bethel head coach Chris DeCarlo. “We are going to need to play better than that if we want to compete this year.”

Playing with an inexperienced offensive line and with tight end Junior Ducatel out with an injury, Bethel managed just 119 yards of total offense.

Alex Amonte led the Wildcats with 29 yards on 16 carries, but 25 of those came on the final possession of the game, when the Lancers had its second team on the field.

Though the Wildcats forced its share of Notre Dame turnovers – fumble recoveries by Brandon Farrell and Anthony Bonagura and an interception by Farrell, the Wildcats could not capitalize.

Even after Dylan Ochs returned a punt 14 yards to the Notre Dame 19 in the fourth quarter, Bethel was not able to take advantage.

On the play following the return, Muniz picked off a pass in the end zone that was intended for the much taller Doug Vorhees.

“Give Notre Dame all the credit in the world,” DeCarlo said. “They came to play.”

Notre Dame iced the game on that drive, but not after some controversy.

Lancers running back Sly Accettullo picked up 12 yards and fumbled after a hit by Farrell.

Bethel defender Christian Naula fell on the ball at the Bethel 35 yard line, but it was ruled that Accettullo’s knee had touched the ground before the ball came out.

The next play, Bartell took a bootleg 37 yards for a touchdown.

Bartell, a sophomore making his first start for the Lancers, ran for 107 yards and threw for 132. He also had an 85 yards punt return for a touchdown called back for holding.

“He didn’t play like a sophomore, but he did make a few mistakes,” Notre Dame head coach Jason Hart said. “He saw a lot of playing time with the varsity basketball team last winter, and that helped him mature fast.”

Bethel has a short week of preparation ahead before it hosts it home opened Thursday against defending Colonial Division champion Masuk.

Bethel 0 0 0 0 – 0

Notre Dame 8 0 7 7 – 22

FIRST QUARTER

ND – Alex Muniz 85 kickoff return (Colin Dempsey pass from Mike Bartell) 11:46

THIRD QUARTER

ND – Bill D’Onofrio 16 pass from Bartell (Joe Dobbins kick) 4:15

FOURTH QUARTER

ND – Bartell 37 run (Dobbins kick) 3:20

Passing

B – Matt Witkofsky 2-5-1-27

ND – Mike Bartell 7-11-1-132

Rushing

B – Alex Almonte 16-39, Brandon Farrell 14-28, Dylan Oachs 3-13, Ryan Fandel 1-3, Anthony Bonagura 1-3

ND – Bartell 7-107, Alex Muniz 2-64, Tom Poirer 8-35, Sly Accettullo 5-26, Colin Dempsey 1-4, Tommy King 2-2

Receiving

B – Doug Vorhees 1-23, Christian Naula 1-4

ND – Dempsey 2-46, Muniz 1-43, Bill D’Onofrio 3-28, Accettullo 1-15