Rams QB cashes in, has hand in all 7 TDs

Badin junior Patrick Coyne throws four touchdown passes and rushes for three more.

By Rick Cassano, Staff Writer 1:28 AM Sunday, October 4, 2009

CINCINNATI — Badin High School’s football team finally found a way to be offensive Saturday afternoon, Oct. 3.

The Rams’ struggling offense erupted for seven touchdowns against Purcell Marian, and junior quarterback Patrick Coyne had a hand in all of them.

Coyne threw for four TDs and ran for three more, totaling 349 yards with his arm and legs as visiting Badin romped to a 49-20 Greater Catholic League Central Division victory at Walnut Hills.

“We don’t like reading in the paper that our offense is bogged down,” Coyne said. “We had our hardest week of practice, and coach said every position was up for grabs. I just want to be on the field, and I want to win. If it’s at quarterback, then it’s at quarterback. After today, I think it is.”

The Rams’ offense had produced just three touchdowns in the previous four games before Saturday, when Badin notched a trio of scores in the first seven minutes.

Coyne completed 12-of-23 passes for 215 yards while rushing 10 times for 134 yards. His first TD run covered 78 yards.

“I have to give credit to my line, (running back Nate) Snellgrove and the receivers,” Coyne said. “Everybody had to do something for every one of those touchdowns.”

Rams coach Bill Tenore mostly liked what he saw from his team, which moved to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the GCL.

“The offense certainly got the monkey off their backs, and I thought our guys played hard all the way through,” Tenore said. “We still have a lot to improve on. We still had too many penalties (eight for 109 yards) and turnovers (three).”

Badin stunned the Cavaliers on the first play from scrimmage as Coyne found Tyler Sanders for a 47-yard touchdown.

That was just one of many lowlights for Purcell (1-5, 0-3) in the opening two quarters. Coyne’s second TD connection with Sanders gave Badin a 35-6 lead with 7:43 left before halftime.

“The first half was an abysmal display of football,” Cavaliers coach Brian Miller said. “They came out ready to play. We didn’t.”

Badin wide receiver-cornerback Jeff Smith, who’s been out with a fractured tailbone, returned to action on offense, but did not play defense.

Smith replaced Coyne at the start of the Rams’ third series. It turned out to be his only play at quarterback as Gabriel Esteve intercepted his pass and ran for a touchdown.

Tenore said the pregame plan was to rotate quarterbacks, noting that Smith’s interception was not the primary reason he didn’t go back to QB.

“It was secondary to the way Patrick Coyne was performing and the fact that Jeff is still coming off an injury,” Tenore said.

Smith and Nick Seither each caught a touchdown pass for Badin, which hosts Roger Bacon on Friday night.

Check out more photos from this game, and vote for the player and game of the week.

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