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CJ topples unbeaten Fenwick

ALTER SHUTS OUT CARROLL: With his older brother (and Alter great) Doug Penno watching, Knights running back Joe Penno (1) rushed for 171 yards and the game's only two touchdown as
Alter topped Carroll 20-0 in the Dayton Daily News Game of the Week. STAFF PHOTO BY TEESHA MCCLAM

Teesha Mcclam ALTER SHUTS OUT CARROLL: With his older brother (and Alter great) Doug Penno watching, Knights running back Joe Penno (1) rushed for 171 yards and the game's only two touchdown as Alter topped Carroll 20-0 in the Dayton Daily News Game of the Week. STAFF PHOTO BY TEESHA MCCLAM

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By Marc F. Pendleton, Staff Writer 1:52 AM Saturday, October 8, 2011

WEST CARROLLTON — This time last year Sam Spees was a wide receiver, Marcus Colvin was a frustrated defensive coordinator and even Scott Pierce was an assistant football coach.

And look at Chaminade Julienne High School’s football program now.

“This is surreal,” said Spees after directing the Eagles to a convincing 40-23 defeat of previously unbeaten Fenwick on Friday night at West Carrollton Junior High.

Spees has become a first-year quarterback as a senior. Colvin became the head coach and Pierce the athletic director.

And even better than the way all those changes have worked out, CJ has recovered from a dreadful 0-2 start in which it was outscored 51-zip to post its fifth straight win. Now CJ (5-2) has a legitimate shot at the Division IV playoffs. That also could mean a rematch with Fenwick.

“I didn’t expect this until halfway into the year when (former QB Michael Simpson) did transfer (to Trotwood-Madison) and they said that I was the quarterback,” Spees said. “I’ve tried to make the best of it and it’s going pretty well so far.”

Fenwick will second that notion. Spees completed 9 of 15 passes for 131 yards, two touchdown strikes to Darian Reynolds and another to Jon Besecker. Spees also dashed 19 yards for another score. CJ spotted Fenwick a 3-0 lead, then tallied the next three TDs to quickly turn the Greater Catholic League North showdown into a rout.

This night, Spees outshined Fenwick QB and Miami University commit Austin Gearing.

CJ moves on to Carroll next week. Fenwick must quickly recover against unbeaten Alter.

“Coming into this year, being a first-year head coach, I just wanted to get us back there,” Colvin said. “I want people to expect us to be the CJ of old.”

It’s the third straight year that Fenwick has wobbled after great starts. Those setbacks coincide with GCL North play.

“Yeah, but it’s not where you start; it’s how you finish,” Fenwick coach Fred Cranford said.

“We run into a buzz saw our last half of the season.”

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