ESD Bound for State Title Game

Comment By Mike Waters History has been made. The unbeaten Episcopal School of Dallas Eagles (11-0) soared past Austin St. Andrew’s, 43-29, in the SPC 3A state semifinals at Jones Family Stadium, establishing a program-record 11 wins in a season. Quarterback Miles Link accounted for all six ESD touchdowns – five passing and one rushing – in a dazzling performance in front of a raucous home crowd. St. Andrew’s took the opening kickoff and marched 64 yards in seven plays, culminating in a 38-yard touchdown pass from Charlie Greenberg to Marcos Erlanson. ESD quickly answered. Daniel Hoffpauir’s 68-yard kickoff return led to a five-yard Link TD pass to Curtis Mathes that deadlocked the score at 7-7. “We knew this was going to be a battle,” Link said. “We just wanted to respond to their score right away and get the momentum on our side.” A Will Reilly 36-yard field goal, set up by his own interception, left the Eagles down by three. On ESD’s ensuing possession, Wayte McKnight’s 58-yard reception set the Eagles up at the Highlanders 15-yard line, and one play later, Mathes grabbed a 10-yard touchdown from Link with 45 seconds left in the first period for a 14-10 Eagles lead they would never relinquish. Two lengthy Link scoring strikes going for 54 and 46 yards to Mathes and William Elliott, respectively, highlighted the second quarter and stretched the Eagles advantage to 28-10 before St. Andrew’s wideout Ethan Horvath reeled in a 40-yard score from Greenberg sent ESD to halftime with a 28-17 cushion. Link continued to sizzle coming out of the break, finding Nico Marquez on a swing pass, and racing 46 yards to paydirt just over a minute after intermission. Link dialed up his own number later in the frame, scampering 19 yards on a keeper and after Marquez ran in a 2-point conversion, ESD held a commanding 43-17 margin heading to the final period. Greenberg hurled a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes, covering 34 and 17 yards to Chance Fresch, for the margin of victory as the Highlanders failed on both 2-point conversion pass attempts. Link directed an offense that amassed 482 yards (331 passing and 151 rushing), finishing with 331 passing yards on 17-of-25 attempts with one interception while spreading the ball around to multiple targets. He also picked up 59 rushing yards on four carries. Mathes, who also recovered a fumble defensively, had a team-leading 87 receiving yards on six catches and the three first-half touchdowns, while Elliott (3-81), McKnight (2-64), and Hoffpauir (3-27) also contributed in the explosive passing game. Marquez had 72 yards on two receptions while adding a game-high 71 rushing yards on 13 carries. ESD head coach Bob Benson was proud of his team. “The kids did a great job,” said the first-year coach. “We made some mistakes but overcame them and got the win.” Benson gave credit to St. Andrew’s, a team it demolished, 52-21, back on Oct. 8. “It’s hard to beat the same team twice in a season,” Benson said. “[St. Andrew’s] were a different team than when we played before.” Charlie Greenberg led St. Andrew’s (6-4) with 300 passing yards (24-of-43 with an interception) and four touchdowns, while Chance Fresch who totaled 10 receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns and Marcos Erlanson notched five catches for 81 yards and a score. This magical run by ESD has been nothing short of spectacular. It starts with the job done by Benson, who in his early 60s, accepted his first-ever high school coaching position after spending the past 10 years as defensive coordinator at Pennsylvania with various previous collegiate head coaching jobs, including Georgetown. Benson, who has had oversight of the program since this July, brought an entirely new mindset to the Eagles as shorter, more focused practices in the off-season continued through the regular season. “We want the kids to be prepared, both mentally and physically,” he said. “Quality over quantity and all about the team.” Link and Mathes, both seniors, say the team really bought into the changes. “In the end, everybody is working towards the same goal, to win a championship,” Link said. “And this has been amazing. “ Mathes nodded in agreement, adding “it’s a one game at a time approach, and now we have one more to win.” The dynamic duo of Link and Mathes has spearheaded this remarkable ESD season. The two seniors have that “it” factor on the field. “We have been best friends since first grade,” Link said. “We’ve grown up together these last 12 years. It’s been very special.” Link has now thrown 27 touchdown passes with just three interceptions heading into the championship contest. Mathes has been on the receiving end of nine of those scores. No. 9 in the state private school rankings, ESD now sets its site to making more history, including its first-ever undefeated season. The final step comes at 7 p.m. Saturday when ESD hosts Arlington Oakridge. The Eagles will be seeking their fourth SPC gridiron crown with the last coming in 2014. ESD knocked off reigning SPC 3A state champ Oakridge, 32-20, on Aug. 23, snapping the Owls 17-game win streak. Oakridge (9-1) ousted Fort Worth Country Day, 44-14, in the other semifinal. “It is gonna be a great challenge,” Benson said. “It’s time to get ready for that one.”