Quivera Heights swamps Cougars
Centre High School Cougars had a difficult time Friday moving the ball against a strong Quivera Heights defense. The Cougars lost the home game by a score of 69-20. The game was called after two quarters because of the 45-point rule.
The Cougars mustered only 27 yards rushing, compared to 301 by Quivera Heights. Passing yards were 18 compared to 76.
Quivera Heights lost 45 yards on penalities compared to just 10 by Centre, but that did not keep Heights from entering the end zone numerous times. They scored five touchdowns in the first quarter and added six in the second.
The Cougars failed to score in the first quarter and were forced to punt numerous times. The score was 35-0 at the end of the quarter.
Several big plays by senior Travis Burns put some spark into Centre's game. Burns scored the first Cougar touchdown on a 62-yard run-back at 6:18 in the second quarter, resulting in a score of 51-6.
When the Quivera Heights coach sent his junior varsity in, Centre Coach Bud Peterson did likewise. The younger players all obtained some experience and had fun, according to the coach.
Playing the quarterback position, freshman Seth Jirak passed the ball to freshman Bryant Gutsch at 4:00 in the second quarter, for a second touchdown. The PAT was good on a pass from Jirak to freshman Thien Antoszyk.
Freshman Lance Diepenbrock caught a 12-yard pass from Jirak to score the third Centre touchdown. The PAT attempt failed.
Jirak was leading rusher with five carries for 31 yards. Gutsch was leading defensive player with three unassisted and seven assisted tackles.
"We're hitting some really tough teams right now," Coach Peterson said. "The kids enjoy practice. We just need some leadership and toughness."
Centre will play its second district game Thursday at home with sixth-ranked Little River.
STATISTICS
Centre 0 20 20
Heights 35 34 69
Team play (Centre/Heights): first downs, 4/9; yards rushing, 22carries-27yds/26c-301; yards passing, 3receptions-13passes-1interception-18yds./3-6-76; penalties, 2-10yds./4-45; fumbles, 2 lost one/0.
Touchdowns: Travis Burns 1, Bryant Gutsch 1, Lance Diepenbrock 1.
Extra points: Thien Antoszyk 2.
Rushing: Burns 5-4; Keenan Geissert 4-7; Brent Carlson 1-2; Eric Peterson 2-11; Seth Jirak 5-31; Gutsch 4-16; Diepenbrock 1-4.
Passing: Peterson 1-12-1-2, Jirak 2-3-20.
Receiving: Burns 1-2; Gutsch 1-8; Diepenbrock 1-12.
Kick returns: Burns, 6-200.
Punt returns: 0.
Tackles (unassisted/assisted): Gutsch 3/7, Jirak 1/5, Joe Forsberg 1/5, Burns 1/3, Carlson 2/2, Peterson 2/0.
