Cougars play final game
Centre High School Cougars faced sixth-ranked Little River Thursday in a district game at home. The team suffered a 30-point loss of 44-14, ending the 2003 season.
According to Coach Bud Peterson, the season ended on a positive note despite a 3-6 record.
"I was very proud of the team," he said. "They played with a lot of heart. A few breaks and the outcome could have been different."
The Cougars got off to a quick start, scoring their first touchdown less than one minute into the game. Senior Travis Burns, playing in his final game as a Cougar, ran 69 yards for the score. The extra-point attempt failed.
Little River scored three answering touchdowns and four extra points, to lead 22-6 at the end of the first quarter.
The Cougars held Little River to just one touchdown in each of the next two quarters, but they failed to score. At the end of the third quarter, Little River led 38-6.
The Cougars did not give up. Andrew Hajek caught a pass from quarterback Eric Peterson and ran 13 yards to score again in the fourth quarter. Senior Brent Carlson received a pass to add the two extra points.
Little River added a touchdown, but the PAT failed. The final score was Little River 44, Centre 14.
Little River compiled 425 yards rushing and zero yards passing. Centre gained 158 yards rushing and 110 yards passing.
Burns ended his stint as a CHS football player in fine fashion. He was Centre's leading rusher, with 107 yards. He also led defensively with six unassisted and 10 assisted tackles and one fumble recovery.
Peterson, also playing his last game, threw 11 completed passes out of 20 attempts, for 110 yards. He threw two interceptions.
Senior Joe Forsberg made two unassisted and seven assisted tackles.
STATISTICS
Centre 6 0 0 8 14
Little River 22 8 8 6 44
Team play (Centre/Little River): first downs, 10/11; yards rushing, 41c-158/47c-425; yards passing, 11-20-2-110/0-3-1-0; penalties, 5-30/4-25; fumbles, 2 lost l/2 lost 1; touchdowns, 2/6; extra points, 2/8.
Rushing: Travis Burns 16c-107yds; Keenan Geissert 17c-36, Brent Carlson 1c-1, Eric Peterson 5c-10, Seth Jirak 2c-7.
Passing: E. Peterson 11-20-2-110, Burns 0-1-0.
Receiving: Burns 3-34, Scott Peterson 3-13, Carlson 3-20, Geissert 1-8, Hajek 2-35.
Kick returns: Burns 3-42, Carlson 3-45.
Punt returns: Burns 2-21, Jirak 1-3.
