Quarterback John Damgard '17 threw for 421 yards, breaking his own school record, and three touchdown passes, and the varsity football team amassed nearly 500 total yards of offense, but turnovers and red-zone miscues foiled a valiant comeback attempt in a loss to Collegiate 30–22 in the regular-season finale on Saturday afternoon.

The game started in an inauspicious manner for the visitors, as Collegiate receiver Ayinde Budd caught a bouncing ball off the leg of a Saints' defensive back and took it home for a 78-yard score. But the Saints responded with a six-play, 64-yard drive culminating in a Damgard pass to Hayden Mitchell '17 for an 11-yard strike. On the day, Mitchell had eight catches for 199 yards and a pair of TDs.

But the final three minutes of the first half proved to be the most consequential, as the Cougars (6–2, 3–1 Prep) scored 16 points in a mere 22 seconds. Following a botched snap in the endzone that led to a safety, Collegiate ran into the endzone on the very next play, and followed that up with a pick-six to go into the locker room up 30–7.

Nonetheless, the Saints (5–4, 1–3 Prep) fought back, as Damgard hooked up with Thomas Caravati '18 for a 22-yard touchdown pass late in the third. Later in the fourth quarter, when St. Chris seemed down and out, Mitchell hauled in a slant pass from his signal-caller and ran nearly the length of the field for a score, a 76-yard jaunt. The ensuing two-point conversion was successful, Damgard to Justin Jasper '18, and the Saints got the ball back with over a minute left, but Collegiate made a last-second stand and sealed the victory.

All told, Damgard was 28-for-44 with 421 yards and 3 TDs. The Saints outgained the Cougars by over 240 yards, but were done in by red-zone turnovers and untimely penalties on defense.

Despite the disappointing finish, the varsity football team has many positives to look back on this season. Individually, quarterback John Damgard will leave the program as the single-game record holder for completions, passing yards, and touchdowns in a game, accomplishing that in a win over FUMA. As far as school records go back, he is also the school's single-season leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and completion percentage.

Additionally, fellow senior Hayden Mitchell led all the VISAA Division I in recieving yards (1,345) and yards per catch (27). As a team, the Saints rebounded from a tough start to win five straight games for the first time since 2004, and clinched the school's first winning season in three years.

While the team wished the season went on longer, the Saints have much to be proud of in 2016.