Centre defeats South Haven in state playoffs
Staff writers
The seniors for the Centre High School football team — seven starters on offense and six starters on defense — stepped up Tuesday night to make sure they would play one more game before graduation.
The Cougars defeated South Haven 44-26 in district play at Centre.
Senior running back and linebacker Casey Kristek played the offensive game of his life. He scored three touchdowns for the Cougars.
The first of his touchdowns resulted from a Cardinal miscue. Confused about the snap count on the play, South Haven quarterback Austin Showman let the shotgun snap sail past his head. Kristek was the opportunistic Cougar who pounced on the ball in the end zone.
Kristek then scored at the beginning of the third quarter to give the Cougars a 28-18 advantage. He received a handoff from quarterback Tanner Brunner on a reverse he ran 31 yards past the south goal line.
In the fourth quarter, Kristek received a pitch from Brunner, who then blocked for his backfield battery mate for a 15-yard, left-side sweep touchdown scamper.
Kristek said he is more of a defensive player. He had not played running back until this year, playing as offensive lineman in previous seasons. He also compiled 72 yards on eight carries.
“It feels good,” he said. “Most people won’t get this feeling in their lives.”
In the words of assistant coach Tad Remy, Brunner did what he always does.
The senior quarterback, kickoff return man, and linebacker rushed for 139 yards, and threw for 63 yards.
Although he threw an interception on the second play of the game, Brunner threw for the Cougar’s first touchdown. Cole Svoboda transformed a five-yard hitch route into a 63-yard touchdown.
Brunner ran for two scores. He dodged multiple defenders to run for a 24-yard touchdown in the second quarter. He finished off the Cardinals with a 15-yard run where he shook two defenders to reach the end zone. Brunner also converted three two-point conversions — one on a pass to Rustyn Kerbs and two running the ball.
“Running is what we hang our hat on,” Remy said.
Although he played well on offense, Brunner fired up his team on defense.
“We pride ourselves on being the harder hitters,” Kristek said.
Kristek said the hardest hit of the night was Brunner’s tackle of Blake Wilkey in the third quarter.
The South Haven running back was trying to dance up the west sideline when Brunner met the elusive Cardinal. The crack of the collision could be heard across the field. Wilkey was slow to get up and sat out a South Haven series, but did return to the game.
Wilkey ran for 205 yards against Centre, including three touchdowns. He also had an interception earlier in the game. He was the player Centre focused on trying to stop.
The biggest stop of the game for the Cougars was on a fourth-and-goal play late in the second quarter. The Cardinals were threatening to tie the game at 20 with a touchdown and a two-point conversion.
“They would have a chance to lead,” Remy said. “You don’t want to play from behind.”
Seniors Jacob Jirak and Rustyn Kerbs forced Showman backward on a quarterback run to create a turnover on downs.
The stop and the victory over South Haven spoke to the Cougars drive to continue a winning program. With the win Tuesday, the Cougars advance a round further in the state playoffs Saturday when they play Baileyville B&B 3 p.m. at home.
Centre bests Hartford
It was parents’ night at Cougar Field Thursday, and a large crowd was on hand to witness Centre’s 45-0 victory over Hartford and a 5-0 finish in 1A, Division II district play.
As has been the rule all season, Centre compiled more losses than its opponent on penalties Thursday, but four intercepted passes helped the Cougars keep control of the game.
Hartford appeared strong at the beginning of the game, but the Jaguars’ offense and defense seemed to break down as the game progressed.
Hartford had the first possession and completed three first downs on a long, time-consuming drive down the field. Brunner stopped the drive by intercepting a pass at the Hartford 4-yard line.
After a turnover on downs by Centre followed by a forced punt by Hartford, the Cougars finally found the end zone with about a minute remaining in the first quarter. Kerbs caught a 61-yard pass for six points. After Cole Svoboda completed a conversion pass, Centre led, 8-0.
The Jaguars opened the second quarter with another long drive but again were stopped by an intercepted pass, this time by Shane Methvin at their 15-yard line.
The Cougars capitalized on it when Brunner threw a completed 60-yard pass to Brian Burhoop for a touchdown. Brunner ran for the extra points, increasing Centre’s lead to 16-0.
Hartford was forced to punt on its next possession. Centre came back and scored again on passes to Kordell Harding and Kerbs.
Centre failed to score after another intercepted pass on Hartford’s next possession. The half ended with the score at 22-0.
On Centre’s first possession of the third quarter, Kristek ran 26 yards for a touchdown. Kerbs converted on a pass from Brunner, and Centre led, 30-0.
After several yardage losses and an incomplete pass, the Jaguars again were forced to punt. Their defense seemed to be broken as Brunner and Kerbs combined for runs in two plays to score again for the Cougars. Brunner ran for the two-point conversion, and Centre led, 38-0.
Hartford threw another intercepted pass, caught by Kerbs, in its next possession, but Centre turned the ball back to the Jaguars on a fumble.
This was followed by another pass interception by Kerbs on the Cougars’ 15-yard line. Kerbs scored Centre’s sixth and final touchdown on a 5-yard run.
With the score 44-0, Brunner kicked for the extra point, and the game ended because of the 45-point rule.