De Smet "Brings The First Noise," Dismantles Miller Career Academy

Durron Neal has seen take the first big hit in games this season and need to claw its way back.

He left little chance of seeing that again Thursday against Miller Career Academy.

The Oklahoma recruit and Spartan senior laid a jarring tackle on Markeese Marbley in front of the Miller sideline on the first play to set the tone in a 53-8 nonconference victory at Sumner.

“Like I tell them, we have to make the first noise,” said Neal, who had a 72-yard touchdown reception and returned a punt 50 yards and an interception 96 yards for TDs. “This year, we’ve been getting hit first, but this is a change of the season next week. We’ve got to start hitting people first in the mouth. That hit…I just read it perfectly and set the tone for the team.”

The victory gives De Smet (6-1, 3-1 in the Metro Catholic Conference, ranked No. 5 in the Class 6 statewide poll) four straight victories heading into its first district game against Lindbergh (October 14, 7 p.m.). The Spartans also handed Miller (5-1, 3-0 in the Public High League, No. 9 in the Class 4 statewide poll) its first loss of the season.

“It certainly set the tone for the rest of the night,” De Smet coach Pat Mahoney said. “We had several big hits and we wanted to make sure they knew we were here to play football.”

Neal’s tackle sparked De Smet’s defense to force back-to-back four-and-outs by Miller.

De Smet scored after both possessions – a five-yard TD pass from junior quarterback Connor Harrison to senior receiver KeVonn Mabon and Neal’s 50-yard punt return – and held a 22-0 lead after the first quarter.

“If we come out and go 80 yards, we set the tone,” Miller coach Sorrell Harvey said. “They came out, made a big play by their star and set the tone. That was the whole ball game, and they played well from start to finish.”

By the time De Smet led 29-0, Miller went to the air and covered 58 yards in the last 30 seconds of the first half to score on a touchdown pass.

De Smet sophomore running back Latif Adams ran for two TDs and 115 yards on 15 carries.

Harrison had 194 yards and three TDs on 10-of-16 passing. Mabon had two TDs and 70 yards on three receptions.

“I’m real of the defense, and I’m real proud of Connor,” Neal said. “He made some excellent reads, and our running backs worked really hard.”

De Smet heads into districts on roll.

“We’ve been up and down all season,” said De Smet senior James Placht, who also had an interception. “This win tonight was huge for us to get us going, playing to our potential. This is a big win for us going into the playoffs.”