STEUBENVILLE — The first word Catholic Central veteran head coach Eric Meek used to describe his team’s performance Saturday night was “dominant” — and it was an accurate description.
The Crusaders, now 5-1, amassed more than 400 yards of offense, including 370 yards and five scores on the ground, shutout the defense and forced four turnovers on a rainy night in Harding against their cross-river rival. She defeated Madonna 48-0. stadium.
“The kids played really well on offense, defense and special teams.” Meek, who achieved his 150th win as a coach with this victory, said the following. “The kids played physical, but it was a really great performance. I’m so proud of the kids.”
Senior tailback Jimmy Hernon had another big night, this time with 14 carries for 193 yards and two touchdowns, including a 72-yarder, and also completed a six-yard touchdown pass. . Tommy Pergi toted 18 times for 86 yards and added two end zone trips, and Matthew Sproch threw for a touchdown on two of his three completions.
One of those scores came from Noah Huff, who made a great catch in the end zone and an interception on defense, Johnny Kostecki also picked off a pass, and Peyton Roush added a sack and a half, bringing his season total close to double digits. Ta.
“Our defense played unbelievably well.” Meek said. “Our passing game was good, our running game was good, our kids were physical on both sides of the ball. We were executing, and that’s important.
“We played unbelievable football, it’s a great win. With eight wins in a row at home, we’re starting to have real confidence and we’re starting to play really good football.”
The Blue Dons (4-1) offense entered the game averaging 330 yards and over 28 points per game, but was held to just 50 yards of offense.
“Sometimes you’re the bear, sometimes you’re the hunter, and (Saturday) we were the bears.” Madonna head coach John McCune said: “This is going to be a wake-up call for this team and hopefully we can get back to practice and get back out of practice.
“Coach Meek has another great team and they played hard from the first whistle and beat us all over the football field. Their defense was great. We won most of the night. We were playing from behind the chains for a while, but that’s because their defense put us in those situations.”
After a bit of a slow start, the Crusaders took the lead late in the first quarter, making it 7-0 when Sproki hit Hernon on his fourth.
The first Central drive of the second quarter was a long 80-yard march that ended with a 3-yard dive by Pergi.
After Kostecki picked off Maddox Bowen’s tipped pass and gave the ball back to the Crusaders, the teams traded fumbles two plays apart and Central pounced on a bad snap by Madonna No. 4, allowing Pergi to score a 4-yard run. It got into the end zone. Next play.
The defense held out again, and a sequence ensued in which Central took complete control. Sproach hit Huff for a 13-yard touchdown, and with 15 seconds left before intermission, Huff made a nice catch in the corner of the end zone. Madonna fumbled a kickoff with 10 seconds left, but Sproki found Huff for a 36-yard pass to the 2, and Hernon powered in as time expired for a 34-0 lead at halftime.
Hernon ran for 72 yards in the third quarter, and Ryan Holzworth got 53 free yards in the fourth, when the reserves came on.
Meek also pointed to a two-point conversion run after Hernon’s score was not a play call.
“I would like to apologize.” Meek said. “I talked to Coach McCune and it was supposed to be a kick, not a directive. We don’t operate that way and we never believe in trying to outscore. ”
to the next
Madonna: Will look to bounce back in a key West Virginia Class A game against Cameron on Friday night.
Catholic Central: Returns home to host Oak Glen next Saturday.
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