Rummel-Holy Cross played out in a familiar manner for the winning team

This was the kind of game Rummel is used to playing: Two teams within one score of each other in the fourth quarter.

Again, the Raiders came through with a victory.

Senior Norman Taylor rushed for the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter, and the Raiders kept Holy Cross from scoring after halftime in a 13-7 victory Saturday at Joe Yenni Stadium.

Taylor, who played injured in recent games, said he felt his best as he rushed 28 times for 143 yards and a 2-yard touchdown on fourth and goal to break a 7-all tie.

The win let Rummel (7-1, 4-1 District 9-5A) stay one game behind undefeated Edna Karr in the district race with those schools set to face each other in a possible district title game in two weeks to close the regular season.

“We’ve been in eight four-quarter games,” Rummel coach Nick Monica said. “We should be comfortable in this situation by now.”

Rummel had two chances to make it a two-score game in the fourth quarter but lost a fumble on a quarterback keeper deep in Holy Cross territory and then Holy Cross recovered a backward pass on fourth down to give the Tigers a last-ditch effort at winning.

The Tigers failed to gain any yards, and their final pass attempt was broken up by Rummel senior defensive back Lester Johnson.

Sophomore Coryan Hawkins, who rushed 12 times for 52 yards, scored Rummel’s other touchdown in the first quarter. His second-and-goal run from the 5 put the Raiders ahead 7-0.

Holy Cross (3-5, 2-3) scored in the second quarter after cornerback Josh Brown forced and recovered a fumble to set up a 29-yard drive that included a 23-yard run by Claude Johnson to the 6, and Derrick Johnson caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Johan Olsen on third and goal.

Claude Johnson returned from injury and rushed 11 times for 57 yards. He missed four games after a knee injury in Week 3 against Chalmette.

Holy Cross finished with four first downs and 81 yards in total offense.

“Our game plan was the coaches letting us know all of them were athletic and anyone can get out there, and it was just strong to the ball,” Rummel senior defensive tackle Fred Banks said. “It can’t just be one person making tackles. We all got to make clean tackles and run to the ball.”

Holy Cross missed an earlier scoring chance on a pass that sailed wide of a wide-open Finn Martin near the sideline in the second quarter.

“We just got to find a way to win, man,” Holy Cross coach Scott Wattigny said. “It’s deflating. I know they feel it too. We got two more (games remaining).”

Rummel improved to 40-15 in the all-time series after Holy Cross won two of the previous three games.

Holy Cross will play St. Augustine on Friday at Tad Gormley Stadium.

Rummel will face Jesuit at the Shrine on Airline. A win could keep the Raiders one game behind Karr with one game remaining or pull Rummel even with Karr if the Cougars lose Friday against John Curtis.

Asked if he pays much attention to the district race, Monica said, “We can’t.”

“There’s just so much in front of us,” the coach said. “And it’s so challenging week in and week out that you really can’t. One day at a time, one practice at a time and that’s all we can look at.”