In its first two MIAA A Conference football wins, Mount St. Joseph’s aerial game was the story. The Gaels went a different tact Saturday.

No. 3 Mount St. Joseph used tenacious running, along with a stout defense, for a 23-7 home victory over 11th-ranked McDonogh to remain perfect in league play. Senior Bryce Cox rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown and Darren Underwood returned an interception 48 yards for a score for the Gaels (5-2 overall, 3-0 MIAA A).

The win keeps the Southwest Baltimore school tied for first with second-ranked Archbishop Spalding, which is off this weekend. McDonogh fell to 3-4, 2-1 in MIAA A play.

Mount St. Joseph ran for 163 yards Saturday against the Eagles’ tough defensive front. Sophomore quarterback Winston Watkins added a one-yard touchdown.

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Behind Watkins’ nine touchdown passes, the Gaels breezed past Loyola Blakefield (40-0) and Gilman (35-14) to start MIAA A play. It was much tougher Saturday, but Mount St. Joseph was able to win at the point of attack against the Eagles after a rocky start.

“Anytime you have a defensive line like that, they can give you trouble,” said Gaels coach Dom Damico. “They took away some things, but our kids stepped up.”

“They took away the passing game so we relied on the running game,” said Cox. “We showed every team in the MIAA A we can do it both.”

Cox, who did most of his damage Saturday between the tackles, broke outside and scooted 36 yards for the game’s opening score late in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Cox brought the Gaels’ out of a second down-and-long situation with an 11-yard run, followed by a Watkins third down conversion pass to senior wideout Tre Goodridge.

The Gaels settled for Chris DeGroote’s 34-yard field goal to lead 9-0 at halftime. McDonogh got on the board in the third quarter on Demetrius Smith’s 14-yard touchdown run down the middle, following his 25-yard catch-and-run play down the sidelines.

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Mount St. Joseph answered impressively with a 19-play, 81-yard drive that took up nearly 10 minutes. Watkins (five-of-15, 63 yards passing), who completed fourth down conversion throws to Goodridge and Peyton Youngbar, called his number and got across the goal line, extending the Gaels’ advantage to 16-7 with 10 minutes, 22 seconds left in regulation.

The Gaels made adjustments in their blocking assignments in the second half after several easy McDonogh tackles for loss.

“It was just mismatches, you got a kid going to Northwestern and our kids aren’t experienced enough to block that level of play,” said Damico. “Once we figured a way to scheme it up so they couldn’t get single blocked, it helped a lot.”

Junior defensive back Greg Roman preserved the lead, intercepting a McDonogh option pass in the end zone with 8:35 to play. Underwood got his hands on a Palazzo attempt in the middle and took it back for a touchdown, putting Mount St. Joseph up, 23-7 with four minutes left.

Roman, the son of Ravens’ offensive coordinator Greg Roman, had two interceptions to go with Underwood’s pick-six. Junior Sahir West recorded a sack for the Gaels’ defense which limited McDonogh to 133 yards Saturday.

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Mount St. Joseph, with Darren Underwood (left) and Bryce Cox, remains undefeated in MIAA A Conference football. Cox led a ground game that produced 160 yards and Underwood returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown. (Derek Toney)

The Eagles’ defense, led by Northwestern commit Mason Robinson, was solid for most of Saturday as junior Noah Onkst had two sacks and Sean Stevenson added one. Luke Miller had an interception.

“They’re (Mount St. Joseph) very explosive on offense…you got to score against these guys,” said McDonogh coach Hakeem Sule, whose team has managed a touchdown in five of its seven decisions this season. “They were physical on the line of scrimmage. They got after us.”

McDonogh, which lost in the MIAA A final last season, visits Spalding Friday evening in a rematch of last year’s semifinals. Mount St. Joseph plays at defending champ and No. 4 Calvert Hall in another 2021 semifinal rematch.

NO. 3 MOUNT ST. JOSEPH 23, NO. 11 MCDONOGH 7

McDonogh 0 0 7 0 - 7

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Mount St. Joseph 6 3 0 14 - 23

First quarter

Mount St. Joseph - Bryce Cox 36 run (kick failed)

Second quarter

Mount St. Joseph - Chris DeGroote 34 field goal

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Third quarter

McDonogh - Demitrius Smith 14 run (Sam Arbaugh kick)

Fourth quarter

Mount St. Joseph - Winston Watkins 1 run (DeGroote kick)

Mount St. Joseph - Darren Underwood 48 interception return (DeGroote kick)