DePaul Football - Greatest Moments In Team History

DePaul takes on Holy Spirit-Abesecon Sunday (1 p.m.) at Rutgers for a the Non-Public, Group 2 Championship. Here's a look back at one of the greatest games in school history, as told by the Wayne Today in 2004:

Exorcising The Spirit
By Doug Scancarella, 11/19/04

ABSECON – Confidence soared as the bus carrying the DePaul football team motored down the Garden State Parkway. The Spartans, winners of five of the last six games, were on the way to take on Holy Spirit in the Non-Public Group II semi-finals.

A year ago, Holy Spirit throttled DePaul 47-0 in a playoff game. This year, the Absecon-based school appeared to be its usual dominating self. They had steamrolled to a 7-2 record and to the top-seed in the bracket. DePaul (6-4), though, was also hot. The team believed that they could avenge that disheartening loss.

During the two-hour journey south, the DePaul bus was filled with self-assured laughter and conversation. As the bus entered the Holy Spirit campus, everything changed. The team bus slowly weaved its way through the campus to Ed Byrnes Stadium. Now there was nothing but silence on the bus. The excruciating memories of last year’s loss were everywhere. They were in the same place, at the same time of year. The simmering irritation had returned. They had been humbled on these grounds a year ago. Twelve months had done little to ease the hurt

Ever since that loss, the DePaul players vowed to return to the playoffs and, hopefully, get a chance to avenge that loss. There was one problem. DePaul’s 2003 team was filled with seniors. The 2004 team, though talented, was very inexperienced. The season, it was widely believed, would be a rebuilding year.

DePaul grew up quickly, though. After losing its first three games, the Spartans rebounded to go 6-4. They earned a second opportunity and this time they got it right. In the end, DePaul had ignored last year’s crushing defeat and stunned Holy Spirit, 27-20.

When the final gun sounded, the elated players and coaches embraced each other in bear hugs. They will now play for the championship against second-seeded Queen of Peace. DePaul last won it all in 1992. They last reached the final in 1996.

"We were really ready for the game,” sophomore quarterback Chaz Cervino said. "We had a great game plan. The coaches had us well prepared,"

From the outset, it was clear the game would not resemble to the 2003 game in the least. Holy Spirit went three-and-out on its first possession. Senior Ray Blum then exploded for 52-yard punt return-touchdown for DePaul. On its next possession, Cervino threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Blum.

"Everyone remembered that 47-0 loss,” DePaul coach Joe Lennon said. “After the game, we put the score on the chalk board in the weight room. We wanted to come back here again. Blum started things for us. We said that if we could start out with the lead we'd have a very good chance. It was an exciting start, but we knew Holy Spirit would not quit."

That became clear on the next series when Zach Luckett rumbled for a 68-yard touchdown run around right end

"Zach Luckett is not only fast, but tough,” Holy Spirit head coach Bill Walsh said. “He's a big player, and big players make big plays in big games. DePaul had the momentum at that point. If we don’t score, it might have been a blowout."

DePaul answered Luckett’s run with an impressive touchdown drive. Cervino fired his second TD pass of the game when he found senior Mike Ponte in the end zone for a nine-yard score. Cervino then rolled left and scored the two-point conversion. The half ended with DePaul up 21-7.

The second half was a back-and-forth struggle. Holy Spirit scored first when Gabe Guerrieri's threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Clayton.DePaul struck back when Cervino threw a 60-yard scoring strike to Brian Gambuzza. Luckett then scored on a 59 run for Holy Spirit.

Late in the game, Holy Spirit mounted a furious drive. They marched 94 yards from its own 3-yard line to the DePaul 3-yard line.Clayton, who led much of the drive, fumbled. Jeff Roberts recovered the ball on the one-yard line. DePaul then ran off the final three minutes with a series of runs.

"In that situation, I'd give Clayton every time,” Walsh said. “He's an awesome football player.”

“It was a big relief when they fumbled on the 1-yard line,” Lennon said. “Someone on our side must have a little rabbit's foot with them."

Cervino led the Spartans with 258 passing yards. He also ran for 57 yards. Ponte caught five passes for 90 yards. Mike Negast led the defense with an interception, a fumble recovery and three batted-down passes.