Centre Cougars win homecoming game
Following fall homecoming coronation ceremonies Friday at Centre High School, the Cougars football team delighted the crowd by defeating the Wakefield Bombers by a score of 61-30.
The outcome was uncertain for a time, as Wakefield came on strong, scoring the first 16 points of the game.
Getting first possession, the Bombers progressed down the field on four first downs, getting into the end zone at 8:55. The PAT was good.
The Cougars were three and out in their first possession, and Wakefield scored another eight points with five minutes left to play in the first quarter.
The ball changed hands several times after that, and the Cougars had it at the 11-yard line of Wakefield as the quarter ended.
At 10:47 in the second quarter, Centre scored its first touchdown as Kyle Luna plowed six yards to cross the goal line. Curtis Gutsch provided the two-point conversion, making the score 8-16 in favor of Wakefield.
The Cougars seemed to get stronger and the Bombers weaker as the game progressed.
In Wakefield's next possession, Gutsch and Travis Burns sacked the quarterback for a six-yard loss, forcing a punt.
After a subsequent Centre punt returned the ball to Wakefield, the Cougars' Derek Belton recovered a dropped ball. On the next play, Todd Stahlecker ran for 53 yards to score another six points. The PAT was good, tying the ball game at 16 all with five minutes remaining in the half.
The final eight points of the first half came with 31 seconds remaining, on a pass from Gutsch to Stahlecker for a 27-yard run and a successful two-point conversion by Gutsch.
At half-time, the score stood at 24-16 in favor of Centre.
Wakefield intercepted a Centre pass early in the third quarter, but Gutsch recovered the ball when Wakefield fumbled. The possession resulted in a touchdown and another successful PAT. The score stood at 32-16.
As the quarter drew to a close, an interference call against Centre put Wakefield on Centre's 15-yard line, allowing the Bombers to score another six points. The extra-point attempt failed, and the score at the end of the third quarter was 32-22.
Less than a minute into the fourth quarter, Mark Pagenkopf crossed the goal line after an 18-yard run and Stahlecker received a PAT pass from Gutsch to give Centre a total of 40 points.
In their next possession, the Cougars advanced from their own 21-yard line to score again on a pass from Gutsch to Stahlecker. Two more points were added on a run by Gutsch.
When Centre got the ball back, Kyle Luna completed a long run from Centre's 32-yard line to the three-yard line of Wakefield. He then ran the ball in for another touchdown at 5:14. The extra-point attempt failed, but the Cougars were ahead 54-22.
But, the Bombers weren't ready to quit. A long run brought them to Centre's 10-yard line where the receiver was stopped by Eric Peterson. A pass caught in the end zone and a successful PAT gave Wakefield another eight points, making the score 54-30.
After recovering a Gutsch fumble, Wakefield threw a pass which was intercepted by Stahlecker and run back 36 yards for a touchdown with 35 seconds remaining. Luna successfully kicked for the extra point.
As the clock ran down, Centre's Aaron Barney intercepted a Wakefield pass, leaving the ball and the thrilling game in the Cougars' possession, with a final score of 61-30.
Centre tallied 46 carries for 369 yards, and Wakefield had 36 carries for 163 yards.
The Cougars' record is 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the Eisenhower League.
Parents' Night is Friday as Centre takes on Goessel at home in district play.
Statistics
Team play: First downs — Centre 15, Wakefield 11; Rushing — Centre 46/369, Wakefield 36/163; Passing — Centre 4/13/1/47, Wakefield 6/20/2/44; Kickoffs — Centre 9/340, Wakefield 5/179; Kick returns — Centre 4/85, Wakefield 8/127; Punts — Centre 2/37, Wakefield 4/121; Punt returns — Centre 2/23, Wakefield 0; Fumbles — Centre 2, lost 2, Wakefield 2, lost 2; Penalties — Centre 7/75, Wakefield 5/40.
Rushing: Luna 17/138, Pagenkopf 11/51, Gutsch 10/82, Stahlecker 8/98.
Punts: Gutsch 2/37.
Punt returns: Stahlecker 2/23.
Kickoffs: Luna 9/340.
Kick returns: Stahlecker 2/48, Pagenkopf 2/37.
Passing: Gutsch 4/13/1/47, Luna 0/1/0.
Pass receptions: Stahlecker 3/41, Peterson 1/6.
Pass interceptions: Stahlecker 1/36, Barney 1/31.
Tackles, unassisted/assisted: Burns 11/7, Gutsch 4/5, Belton 3/2, Pagenkopf 3/5, Stahlecker 6/4, Peterson 5/3, Luna 5/4.
