On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the September 11th Terrorist Attacks, All Saints Episcopal of Fort Worth hosted Archbishop Stepinac of White Plains, New York. All Saints won 38-28.
But win or lose, Stepinac used the game as a tribute to all alumni police officers, firefighters, first responders who lost their lives in the attacks. The game was also a tribute to alumni Joseph R. Riverso, a former all-league player for the Crusaders and assistant football coach. Riverso worked for Cantor Fitzgerald on 9/11 and perished in the collapse of the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
On the field, the game was close…at times.
1st Quarter
The Crusaders got the scoring going on a touchdown pass to Gjok Dedvukaj. The extra point was good and Stepinac took an early 7-0 lead.
All Saints answered with Brant Ahlfinger rushing touchdown to tie the game 7-7. After their drive stalled at the 4-yard line, The Saints added a field goal to increase their lead to 10-7.
2nd Quarter
Stepinac QB James McCauley ran it in for a score to give the Crusaders the lead at 14-10.
All Saints answered with a touchdown run by Ahlfinger, his second of the game to take back the lead at 17-14. The Saints added a 35-yard field goal by Andrew Lin to increase the lead to 20-14 going into halftime.
It was All Saints in the 3rd Quarter
The Saints poured it on in the third quarter. WR Chris Palfreeman took one to the house on a pass and the Saints convert the 2pt conversion and pushed the lead to 28-14.
The Saints added another Ahlfinger touchdown run walks untouched into the end zone for his 3rd rushing TD of the game. The Saints led 35-14 at that point.
Holding on for the Win
All Saints added another Andrew Lin FG attempt to make the score 38-14 with less than 8 minutes left in the game.
Stepinac added two touchdowns in the final minutes but it wasn’t enough.
Final score: All Saints 38 – Archbishop Stepinac 28.
