By Mike Rubin

Any hopes of a three game winning streak by the St. Clement’s football team quickly fell by the wayside.

Quarterback Robert McMaster completed 10 of 15 passes for 216 yards with two touchdowns and also rushed for 88 yards and a score as Pope John handed the Anchormen a tough 40-12 defeat in Saturday’s match-up at Dilboy Field. With the loss, the Anchormen fell to 3-5 overall.

Despite the loss, Michael Julce delivered a solid performance, rushing for 103 yards along with a touchdown in the effort.

Early in the first quarter, Pope John grabbed the early 8-0 lead as Malcolm Brown hauled in a 37-yard touchdown pass from McMaster. McMaster followed with a successful two-point conversion run.

After a solid defensive stand, Pope John increased the lead to 14-0 as McMaster finished off a quick scoring drive. Driving to the red zone, McMaster dashed through several linebackers and powered through with a 12-yard touchdown run.

It stayed that way until the Anchormen closed the gap within 14-6 as Julce broke through for a 50-yard touchdown run. Following a pair of screens, Julce emerged through a pair of tacklers at the line of scrimmage and blazed down the middle of the field and into the end zone.

On the ensuing possession, Pope John counterattacked and quickly increased the lead to 20-6. Off a screen pass, Brown dodged through a pair of free safetied at midfield and blitzed into the end zone untouched for a 65-yard touchdown reception.

Once again, the Anchormen were presented with a glimmer of hope as Sean Simas intercepted an intended pass from McMaster at the 40-yard line. Dodging through several defenders, Simas dashed down the sideline and into the end zone, as the Anchormen closed within 20-12 at the half.

In the opening minutes of the third quarter, Pope John reestablished control of the game, and executed an 80-yard touchdown play. Off a halfback option, Jevon Brown-Simpson fired a pass downfield to Nate Budwah. Budwah outfoxed a pair of cornerbacks and galloped downfield into the end zone. Brown-Simpson followed with a successful two-point conversion, increasing the lead to 28-12.

After a defensive stand, the Anchormen capped off another scoring drive early in the fourth quarter on Brown-Simpson’s four yard touchdown run.

Capping the scoring, the Anchormen increased the lead to 40-12 midway through the fourth quarter as Judemario Josaphat scored on a 46-yard interception return.

The Anchormen will aim to regain their winning momentum when they travel to face Burke High School next Saturday morning.