by Josh Ajiwibawa ’25
In their third game of the season, the Bellarmine Bells (0-2) faced off against the Monte Vista Mustangs (1-1) in a non-conference matchup at home. The Bells anticipated a difficult game as their football team was ranked 381st in California, compared to Monte Vista’s 162nd. Despite the challenge, they took to the field energized and focused, hoping to secure their first win of the season in front of their home fans.
The game started off slowly, with possession of the ball being traded back and forth between the two teams. Both defenses were playing well, and it appeared as if the game was headed toward a defensive battle until Monte Vista broke the deadlock with a rushing touchdown. The Bells were unable to answer with a score of their own, and the first quarter came to a close with Bellarmine trailing 0-7.
Looking to strike back, Bellarmine continued to push forward and finally broke through when wide receiver Luca Bovone ’25 scored on a 17-yard pass to equalize the game. With momentum on their side, Bellarmine’s defense began to find their groove as they made several key stops to maintain the tie. However, shortly before the end of the second quarter, the visiting team put together a strong drive and scored a field goal. The game went into halftime with the Bells trailing 7-10.
The second half started off with a major miscue, as a couple of missed tackles allowed the Mustangs to return the opening kickoff for a touchdown, putting them up 17-7. With this surprising turn of events, the Bells struggled to regain their momentum, falling short on several offensive drives. The defense did its best to keep the team in the game by holding the Mustangs scoreless for the majority of the period. However, the Mustangs eventually broke through with another rushing touchdown, and the third quarter ended with the Bells losing 7-24.
Bellarmine was able to score on a touchdown pass to wide receiver Dominic Vaccaro ’27 but fell short in their efforts to complete the comeback, ultimately losing the game with a final score of 13-24.
Some key stats from the game:
- Quarterback Nick Weber ’25 threw for 172 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions
- Wide receiver/kick returner Luca Bovone ’25 led the team with 98 all-purpose yards and a touchdown
- Defensive lineman Charles Swall ’25 put up a strong performance with 7 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a sack
Missed the game? Check out a recording of the live broadcast: Click Here!
The Bells are ready to secure their first win of the season in an away game against Saint Francis on Friday, September 27th, at 7:00 PM at Saint Francis. Don’t miss the chance to support your Bellarmine football team!