The Notre Dame football team had large cleats to fill at quarterback this season as record-setting Cole DeFranco graduated.
Sophomore Collin Quintano stepped into that big void and delivered an impressive debut at quarterback on Friday night.
Quintano completed 22 of 33 passes for 283 yards and four touchdowns as the defending Colonial League champion Crusaders posted a 42-35 home victory over preseason league favorite Northwestern.
“I just had a lot of confidence, especially in my teammates, like all the seniors and the captains. They just help me out a lot. They all have trust in me and that’s what I love the most about this,” Quintano said.
“He’s got the head for it. He was taking some shots there. Resilient,” Crusaders coach Phil Stambaugh said of Quintano, who didn’t play quarterback before joining the Notre Dame program last season.
Notre Dame QB Collin Quintano scrambles away from Northwestern Lehigh's Robert Goldberg (77) as he rushes the ball on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Quintano found senior Andrew Darno for a 36-yard touchdown pass with 48 seconds remaining in the first quarter to put the Crusaders ahead 14-0. The two connected again on a 5-yard touchdown pass with 5:55 remaining in the second quarter to make it a 22-6 game. Quintano had 192 yards and three touchdowns in the first half with 119 yards and a pair of scores going to Darno, who missed the majority of the second half with an injury.
“Me and Darno, in the winter and spring, we go all the time to Palmer football field. We go and work there. We just got our timing so right on all these plays and patterns. You could see it paid off today,” Quintano said.
Notre Dame's Andrew Darno avoids Northwestern Lehigh's Devin Toth (51) after making a catch on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
“Darno and Christian Greggo, the two guys coming back for us, being leaders, being able to help out all the young guys. That didn’t just happen by accident tonight. These guys are working extremely hard,” Stambaugh said.
Greggo opened the game with a bang, returning the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown.
“Funny story, actually. Before we came out here, I was talking to some of the guys and I was like, ‘can you imagine if one of us took the opening kickoff to the house and scored?' And it ended up happening. In the end zone and on the sideline, we were just going crazy. And I think that really set the tone for the game and that just got our offense booming on that," Greggo said.
The senior also caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Quintano to put Notre Dame ahead 28-14 with 59 seconds left in the first half. Greggo added an 18-yard touchdown reception on a 3rd-and-goal to extend the Crusaders’ lead to 35-21 with 4:32 remaining in the third quarter.
Notre Dame's Christian Greggo (6) celebrates with Andrew Darno (12) after returning a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown against Northwestern Lehigh on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame junior running back Matt Frauen Jr. ran for 114 yards and a touchdown. Frauen, who transferred from Belvidere, had a 15-yard touchdown run with 1:54 left in the third quarter as the Crusaders took a three-touchdown lead.
“The biggest thing is the atmosphere is amazing,” Frauen said of Notre Dame. “Honestly, I was pretty nervous coming in, just because it’s a pretty big stage. But once things started getting rolling, I was fine. I love it.”
Notre Dame football team hosts Northwestern Lehigh on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Northwestern turned the ball over six times, including three times deep inside the Crusaders’ territory in the fourth quarter.
Crusaders senior Matt Wolke had two interceptions and junior Joe Galle had an interception and recovered a fumble.
Tigers senior quarterback Deven Bollinger passed for 233 yards, rushed for 78 and tallied three total touchdowns.
Northwestern junior running back Nick Henry ran for 91 yards and a score.
“It’s never as bad as what you think and it’s never as good,” Tigers coach Josh Snyder said. “I didn’t have a lot of positives to say other than we kept fighting. If you watched the game, you wouldn’t have thought we only lost by seven and had a couple of opportunities to really make it interesting and couldn’t get it done.”
Notre Dame High School cheerleaders and student body cheer on their football team against Northwestern Lehigh on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
The night belonged to Quintano, who gave plenty of credit to the record-breaking DeFranco.
“Yes, a ton,” Quintano replied when asked if the former Crusaders quarterback helped him out. “When I got in last year, he gave me so much confidence. That’s what helped me this year too. During practices, he’d tell me what I’d do wrong all the time when I was on scout team and it helped a lot.”
Notre Dame's Andrew Darno (12) catches a pass for a touchdown against Northwestern Lehigh on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame QB Collin Quintano is tackled from behind by Northwestern Lehigh's Conner Snyder on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Northwestern Lehigh cheerleaders perform on the sidelines on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame football players head out for the coin toss on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame QB Collin Quintano is sacked by Northwestern Lehigh's Domenick Harding on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame's football team takes the field for their game against Northwestern Lehigh on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame's Jake Hull eyes Northwestern Lehigh's Nick Henry (4) on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame's Christian Greggo (6) returns a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown against Northwestern Lehigh on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame QB Collin Quintano is sacked by Northwestern Lehigh's Domenick Harding on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame's Jake Hull and the rest of the team stands for the National Anthem on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame's Andrew Darno is tackled by Northwestern Lehigh's Justin Rodda (2) after making a catch on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame QB Collin Quintano looks down field to throw a pass against Northwestern Lehigh on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame's William Jordan sacks Northwestern Lehigh QB Deven Bollinger on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame head coach Phil Stambaugh is overcome with emotion on Aug. 23, 2019, after moment of silence for former Northwestern Lehigh player Brett Snyder, his former teammate at Lehigh University, who passed away this year. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame QB Collin Quintano looks down field to throw a pass against Northwestern Lehigh on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame QB Collin Quintano looks down field to throw a pass against Northwestern Lehigh on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame and Northwestern Lehigh football players shake at midfield on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame's Andrew Darno (12) is tackled after making a catch against Northwestern Lehigh on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame's Matt Frauen Jr. (1) tries to stay on his feet as he heads upfield after making a catch against Northwestern Lehigh on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Northwestern Lehigh's Nick Henry (4) rushes the ball against Notre Dame on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame's Matt Frauen Jr. (1) stretches out to make a catch against Northwestern Lehigh on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame High School students get pumped as the team increases its lead against Northwestern Lehigh on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame's Matt Wolke (18) intercepts a pass intended for Northwestern Lehigh's Justin Rodda (2) on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame's Matt Wolke (18) intercepts a pass intended for Northwestern Lehigh's Justin Rodda (2) on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame's Matt Wolke (18) intercepts a pass intended for Northwestern Lehigh's Justin Rodda (2) on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame's Matt Wolke (18) turns upfield after intercepting a pass intended for Northwestern Lehigh's Justin Rodda on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame's Andy Matisz reaches in to strip the ball from Northwestern Lehigh's Nick Henry (4) on Aug. 23, 2019. Andy Matisz caused the fumble and Notre Dame recovered. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame head coach Phil Stambaugh looks on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame's Andrew Darno (12) catches a pass for a touchdown against Northwestern Lehigh on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Northwestern Lehigh's Wyatt Ledeboer (19) intercepts the ball and rushes for a touchdown against Notre Dame on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame's Andrew Darno (12) catches a pass for a touchdown against Northwestern Lehigh on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame's Andrew Darno (12) celebrates his touchdown with Robby Spirk (10) against Northwestern Lehigh on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Notre Dame's Andrew Darno (12) scores a touchdown against Northwestern Lehigh on Aug. 23, 2019. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)
Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshFolck. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.
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