After losing all its non-league games, the injury-plagued St. Monica football team will begin league play Friday night.
St. Monica, which lost to Palisades Friday, 21-0, will have a home game (at St. Bernard High) against La Salle.
After suffering a batch of injuries, St. Monica took on an ambitious non-league schedule. The combined record of opponents was 15-5.
“Our defense played well but we couldn’t convert our offensive opportunities,” said St. Monica Coach Jason Strouse. “We were on their side of the field a few times.”
No report of a St. Monica game this season would be complete without an injury report. Tommy Marrone played quarterback despite a knee problem, tailback Vince Valdez returned after missing three games with a kidney ailment, John Parks didn’t play after suffering a concussion the previous week against Santa Monica and Billy Thompson suffered a hip pointer.
Vince Valdez gained 80 yards on 15 carries and his twin brother, Ricky, returned to his natural position of fullback.
“Palisades has outstanding speed and we were hurt by kick returns,” said Strouse.Palisades, which was 1-9 last season, lost its first two games this season but has won three in a row as it prepares for play in the Western League.
