Falls City Sacred Heart’s supposed “big game” with Sterling Friday night was tripped up before it even started, but that didn’t stop the Irish from kicking the Jets while they were down.
Top-ranked and now 6-0 FCSH posted 28 first quarter points, then added 14 more before Irish head coach Doug Goltz called the dogs off and subbed in junior varsity players with a 42-0 lead.
Irish senior quarterback Chaz Dunn connected on touchdown passes of 52, 53, 49 and 17 yards and also ran one in from 28 yards to lead the offense. Finding themselves on the other end of Dunn’s TD throws were Logan Scheitel, Colin Niemeyer, Sawyer Kean and Sean Strasheim.
Kean added a 42-yard scoring run with 47 seconds left in the first quarter to put FCSH ahead 28-0.
Playing without their starting senior backfield of Chris Wenzl and Trey Trauernicht, who were suspended for violating team rules, Sterling was not able to hold up their end of the bargain for what was billed by preseason prognosticators as potentially one of the best games in Class D2 in 2013. Wenzl was a first-team all-state selection in 2012 after rushing for 1,639 yards and Trauernicht rushed for more than 700 yards last year.
“It obviously hurt them, as they are two seniors that have been starters,” said Goltz about the Jets’ absent duo.
Goltz said he was pleased with his team’s performance and where they are at this point of the season, but knows they must continue to work if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs.
“We did some good things,” Goltz said. “We are improving offensively as we continue to develop the system we are running with more spread formations and motion and trying to get our athletes out in space.”
The Irish used a balanced attach Friday night, totaling 186 yards on the ground and 197 through the air, while holding the Jets to 202 yards of offense.
FCSH’s defense forced two turnovers, which they turned into 14 points. Individually, the Irish had great performances from seniors Jarod Fiegener and Brandon Schawang, as well as junior Logan Scheitel. Fiegener finished with 19 tackles and one sack, while Schawang recorded 15 stops, one fumble recovery and had one tackle for loss and Scheitel was credited with seven stops and one sack.
The lopsided victory was the sixth this season for Goltz and his team, which has outscored their opponents 335-46 this season, but Goltz said his team knows what lies ahead.
“Our guys played deep enough last year that they know the type of competition we could face depending on how far we can advance. We can’t do anything about our schedule. We just have to play each game as they come, try to improve each week and hope we can match up with the elite teams when we face them.”
The Irish spend the final two regular season weeks on the road, this Friday at Lewiston (3-3) and next Thursday at Deshler (0-6). Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m.
Team Stats
Ster SH
First downs 11 19
Rushing 55-218 30-202
Rushing lost 18 16
Rushing net 200 186
Passing 1-3-1 6-8-1
Passing yds. 2 197
Fumbles lost 1 0
Punts-ave. 5-22.2 0
Punt return yds. 0 32
Kickoffs-ave. 2-50.0 10-45.8
Kickoff returns yds. 0 23
Total return yds. 0 55
Penalties-yds. 6-47 2-20
Total offense 202 383
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INDIVIDUAL STATS
Rushing
FCSH — Ahern, 8-44; H. Arnold, 10-35, TD; Barker, 1-0; Dunn, 2-28, TD; Kean, 1-42, TD; Keller, 6-30, TD; Malone, 2-23, TD.
Passing
FCSH — Dunn, 6-8-1, 197, 4 TD.
Receiving
FCSH — Kean, 1-49, TD; Malone, 1-14; Niemeyer, 2-65, TD; Scheitel, 1-52, TD; Strasheim, 1-17, TD.
PAT
FCSH — Haralabidis, 6-6.
Kickoffs
FCSH — Haralabids, 9-450, 50.0 avg.
Kickoff Returns
FCSH — Kean, 1-23.
Punts
FCSH — No stats.
Punt Returns
FCSH — Malone, 3-32.
Interceptions-Return yds.
FCSH — Dunn, 1-0.
Fumble Recoveries
FCSH — Schawang, one.
Tackles
(unassisted-assisted)
FCSH — Ahern, 1-3; H. Arnold, 0-1; S. Arnold, 0-3; Dunn, 0-1; Fiegener, 3-16; Johansen, 1-1; D. Keithley, 2-5; E. Keithley, 0-4; Keller, 2-4; Kirkendall, 0-4; Malone, 3-4; Martin, 2-2; Niemeyer, 1-4; Schawang, 3-12; Scheitel, 3-4; Strasheim, 2-3; Witt, 1-0.
Sacks
FCSH — Fiegener and Scheitel, one apiece.
Tackles For Loss-Yards Lost
FCSH — Fiegener, 1-2; D. Keithley, 1-1; Schawang, 1-8; Scheitel, 1-7.
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