Go-to back Jeffery Watkins Jr. did a little bit of everything to help Notre Dame overcome a penalty-riddled performance and secure a 25-13 road win at Silverdale Baptist Academy in the Division II-AA East opener for both teams Friday night.
Watkins rushed for 213 yards on 25 carries, completed two passes and was the holder on the extra point of Notre Dame's last score. His big night continued a strong start to the season for the senior.
"Jeffery carried the ball 45 times in the first two games," Fighting Irish coach Charles Fant said. "He's our bellcow. He's that guy in the huddle that's talking to the guys and saying, 'Come on, let's go and keep on going.'
"His leadership is what carries him forward, and all those guys want to block for him. He's just one heck of a ball player."
"I just followed those guys up front, because they were making it happen," Watkins said. "I just wanted to do everything I could for those guys tonight."
Silverdale had success moving the ball and opened the scoring with a 5-yard pass by quarterback Wade Jewell to tight end Jordan Sanders, and the Seahawks moved the ball with a balanced attack led by Connor Delashmitt on the ground and some opportunistic passing by Wade. But two fumbles, including one on the Notre Dame 20 late in the first half, kept SBA (1-2) from extending its 7-6 lead before halftime.
Notre Dame (2-1) was far from perfect in its execution. Despite a grinding attack by Watkins, the Irish missed a field-goal try in the third quarter as well as an extra-point attempt and two 2-point conversions, and they committed 11 penalties for 110 yards.
"It was a dogfight, and when you have those dogfight games and it's a region win you're happy," Fant said. "But my goodness, those penalties are the things that you can't continue to do and be successful."
Notre Dame finally began to take control of the game on a 26-yard touchdown run by Watkins late in the third quarter and a 4-yard Daishun Sims run early in the fourth quarter. That gave the Irish an 18-7 lead with 5:43 remaining in the game.
But Silverdale refused to quit and scored again on a 15-yard pass from Jewell to Cameron Mullins with 2:03 remaining. Watkins' 5-yard scoring run with 1:16 remaining sealed the win, but SBA coach Al Rogers' team drove down the field and was throwing into the end zone as time expired.
"We just want respect in this district," Rogers said. "I know we're a young school and things like that, but I think we earned that tonight. We had a few mistakes, but we still stayed in this ballgame."
Jewell finished the game 13-of-23 passing for 172 yards, and Delashmitt ran for 91 yards on 12 carries and had a 27-yard reception. Sanders finished with six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown.
Despite coming away with the win, Fant had high praise for the players and coaches on the other side of the field.
"When we got to this game, we knew it was going to be a challenge," he said. "And I have to tip my hat to Coach Rogers and his staff. He had those kids ready, and their game plan was incredible."
Contact Jim Tanner at JFTanner@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JFTanner.