Centre Cougars pile up points against St. Xavier
The Centre Cougars football team had no trouble defeating the St. Xavier Rams Friday in the first home game of the season.
That's not to say they didn't have their problems.
During the first quarter, after a long run on a kick-off return for a possible touchdown, the Cougars were penalized for a block in the back and found themselves back at their own 16-yard line.
However, moments later, senior Mark Pagenkopf, on a pass from quarterback Curtis Gutsch, ran the ball 71 yards for a touchdown. Eric Peterson ran for the extra points.
At 6:11, Pagenkopf scored a second touchdown on a 14-yard run. Todd Stahlecker carried the ball for the two extra points.
Less than three minutes later, senior Kyle Luna scored another touchdown on a 16-yard run, and Gutsch completed the two-point conversion attempt.
At the end of the first quarter, the score stood at 24-0.
The second half was almost a carbon copy of the first with three more touchdowns by the Cougars.
The first one came on a 16-yard run by Luna, following by a kick-attempt for the extra point, which was no good.
Eric Peterson ran for 31 yards for the second touchdown, and this time Luna's kick was good.
The last touchdown came at 3:48 with a pass from Gutsch to Pagenkopf, who crossed the goal line after 34 yards. Pagenkopf also ran for the extra points.
Citing the "mercy rule," officials called the game at half-time, leaving the final score Centre 45, St. Xavier 0.
Statistics
Team play: Centre — first downs 10, rushing 18/231 yards, passing 2/7/65, punt returns 2/31, kick-off 7/270, penalties 5/33; St. Xavier — first downs 6, rushing 24/48, passing 4/106, kick returns 6/87, fumbles 3/lost1, penalties 5/40.
Rushing: Pagenkopf 5/100, Luna 6/119, Gutsch 4/12, Aaron Barney 3/0.
Passing: Gutsch 2/6/65, Peterson 0/1/0.
Pass receptions: Peterson 1/31, Pagenkopf 1/34.
Kick-offs: Stahlecker 7/270 (39.6avg.)
Punts: 0
Punt returns: Stahlecker 2/31.
Tackles (unassisted/assisted): Travis Burns 5/7, Derek Belton 6/3, Brandon Klenda 2/5, Gutsch 2/4, Pagenkopf 4/3, Stahlecker 1/4, Peterson 1/2, Luna 2/5, Brent Carlson 1/3, Tad Remy 2/2, Joe Forsberg 0/1.
