St. Paul Knocks Crespi Out of Mission Lead, 30-21

St. Paul High had trouble stopping Crespi quarterback Cody Smith, but the Swordsmen did enough damage to knock the Celts off the Mission League’s top rung.

The Swordsmen (4-3-2, 4-0-1 in league play) moved into a first-place tie with Notre Dame, a half-game ahead of Crespi, by beating the Celts, 30-21, Friday night at Pierce College.

The Swordsmen built a 14-9 lead by halftime and maintained the lead throughout the second half.

Rick Camarena’s 32-yard field goal in the third quarter gave St. Paul a 17-9 advantage.

The Celts (7-2, 4-1) struck first after the opening kickoff. On Crespi’s first play, Smith connected with running back Joseph Ruggiero on a screen pass for a 74-yard touchdown.

Smith, who had thrown just one interception entering the game, was outstanding in the first half, completing 16 of 19 passes for 188 yards. Smith had nine consecutive completions before Henry Ortiz picked off a pass on the Swordsmen four-yard line.

Smith finished 28 of 39 for 380 yards, but it was the Celts’ defense that couldn’t do the job.

St. Paul used a bevy of offensive weapons, including two quarterbacks, seven receivers and four running backs, to keep Crespi off balance. St. Paul starting quarterback Albert Borunda completed nine of 16 for 146 yards, and Matt Lenzen, who splits time with Borunda at quarterback, completed two of four for 78 yards and one touchdown. Borunda scored on runs of one and 16 yards.

Lenzen faked a punt in the fourth quarter and hit Chad Griffin in the left flat for a 59-yard touchdown, breaking the game open for St. Paul, 30-9.

Tailback Carlos Ramos gained just 59 yards in 21 carries but kept St. Paul drives alive throughout the game. Ramos’ two-yard touchdown run in the first quarter gave St. Paul a 7-6 lead.