It was the type of homecoming any school wants to have to keep the fans happy.
Borgia came out, scored early and often on the way to rolling to an Archdiocesan Athletic Association victory over Bishop DuBourg, 49-7.
DuBourg did score its first points of the season, getting a 23-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.
The Knights finished their initial campaign in the league with a 2-2 mark. Borgia is 4-2 overall following the win. The Knights remain home next week, hosting Westminster.
Borgia wasted no time in jumping out to an early lead. The Knights scored the first time they touched the ball as Ray Smith took a punt return 88 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown with 8:06 left in the opening quarter.
The Knights were penalized after the play, forcing Luke Schriewer to attempt a 35-yard extra point, but the soccer player split the uprights to make it 7-0.
Following that kick, DuBourg did not punt to Smith again, preferring to kick away from the Borgia returners.
Borgia scored again on its second play from scrimmage. John Baumstark broke loose for a 37-yard touchdown run with 6:06 left in the first quarter. Schriewer’s kick made it 14-0.
Baumstark went through the air to find Tony Helfrich for a 30-yard touchdown strike. The actual pass was a short one with Helfrich breaking free for the score with 3:11 left in the first quarter. Schriewer’s kick made it 21-0.
Late in the first quarter, Smith broke loose for a 68-yard run with 4.5 seconds left on the clock. Schriewer’s kick made it 28-0, which was the score after one quarter.
Borgia scored the only touchdown of the second quarter. After a Baumstark pass to Robbie Vossbrink was called back on a penalty, the Knights got a long run by Jacob Haskins and followed that up with a 10-yard scoring run by Baumstark with 8:48 to play in the half.
Borgia had two other chances. Justin Baylard, relieving Baumstark later in the second quarter, had a pass intercepted by DuBourg sophomore Maurion Warren in the end zone with 5:43 to play.
The Cavaliers took advantage of another turnover, a Preston Marquart fumble, to drive into Borgia territory late in the half. However, the Cavaliers could not score before the intermission.
While DuBourg has not scored a point this season, the Cavaliers did have some positives. Warren was able to run for yardage through the Borgia defense. Freshman quarterback Thomas Kinney completed some passes and engineered drives which reached Borgia territory.
And the Cavaliers had success returning kicks.
DuBourg tried an onside kick to start the second half, but the ball went out of bounds. The Knights drove down and got on the board again with Baylard scoring on a five-yard run with 8:43 left in the quarter. Schriewer’s kick made it 42-0.
The Cavaliers nearly scored when Stafford Green made a one-handed grab on the left sideline, but he was brought down at the Borgia 25.
Two plays later, Kinney found Green for a 23-yard touchdown pass on the left side of the end zone. It was the first points scored by the Cavaliers this season. Jeff Schwartz kicked the extra point to cut Borgia’s lead to 42-7.
Baylard aired out the ball to find a wide-open Brandon Guehne for a 53-yard touchdown with 3:41 to play. Jacob Grellner’s kick made it 49-7 for the Knights.
Borgia ran for 293 yards and passed for 148.
On the ground, Smith carried the ball four times for 123 yards. Jacob Haskins had five carries for 60 yards, Baumstark ran twice for 47 yards, Baylard had seven carries for 34 yards and Josh Kleekamp carried the ball five times for 30 yards.
Baumstark was 6-6 passing for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Baylard was 3-6 for 75 yards, one touchdown and an interception.
Guehne had one reception for 53 yards. Preston Marquart caught three passes for 30 yards. Helfrich had two catches for 30 yards while Robbie Vossbrink caught two passes for 24 yards. Haskins had one catch for 11 yards.
Defensively, Evan Zeitzmann had four tackles and seven assists. Kleekamp posted six solo tackles. Nick Monzyk made five tackles and added one assist. Nick Jacquin had four tackles and two assists. Helfrich ended with four tackles, one assist and two sacks. Clayton Pezold recorded four tackles and four assists. Vossbrink ended with four tackles and one assist.
Box Score
DB 0-0-0-7=7
BOR 28-7-7-749
First Quarter
BOR - Ray Smith 88 punt return (Luke Schriewer kick), 8:06
BOR - John Baumstark 37 run (Schriewer kick), 6:06
BOR - Tony Helfrich 30 pass from Baumstark (Schriewer kick), 3:11
BOR - Smith 68 run (Schriewer kick), 0:4.5
Second Quarter
BOR - Baumstark 10 run (Schriewer kick), 8:48
Third Quarter
BOR - Justin Baylard 5 run (Schriewer kick), 8:43
Fourth Quarter
BD - Stafford Green 23 pass from Thomas Kinney (Jeff Schwartz kick), 6:27
BOR - Brandon Guehne 53 pass from Baylard (Jacob Grellner kick), 3:41
