Rams score early and often

Isaiah Washington slips through the Villanova defense for a big gain. (John Dvorak/Presidio Sports Photos)

Isaiah Washington slips through the Villanova defense for a big gain. (John Dvorak/Presidio Sports Photos)

Cate’s No. 2-ranked 8-man football team crushed Villanova on Saturday, 55-6, in a Condor League game that saw the Rams remain undefeated at 7-0.

The Rams led 48-0 at halftime on their way to their sixth win of the season by 35 or more points. Cate’s average margin of victory in seven games is 42 points.

Dean Smith scored three touchdowns for Cate, the first being a 46-yard catch from quarterback Michael Nettesheim. The Rams quickly added to their score, forcing an immediate turnover and scoring again 11 seconds later on a 16-yard run by Isaiah Washington.

“All of our seniors stepped up,” said Rams assistant coach Dave Soto, who singled out Musa Hakim and Pierce Lundt on the defensive side of the ball.

Washington had another touchdown on a 11-yard passing play from Netthesheim. Clinton Hall and Patrick Armstrong punched in rushing TDs in the closing minutes of the second quarter.

“That’s part of the stuff that makes us so dangerous this year. We can throw when we need to and we can run when we need to,” Soto said.

Villanova scored its touchdown with 3:20 to go in the third quarter. Cate added its last touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 7-yard run by Armstrong.

The Rams play their final regular-season game next Saturday at Laguna Blanca.