By Mike McGraw
Executive Director
LAFAYETTE – There are many ways to describe second-ranked host Lafayette Central Catholic’s 20-0 victory over No. 1 Pioneer in the Class A Sectional 34 opener Oct. 23. In the end, however, there are two simple explanations:
Central Catholic played mistake-free football, and Pioneer was anything but free of mistakes. Secondly, CC took advantage of its opportunities, while Pioneer did not.
A look at the halftime statistics will prove my point.
Pioneer had outgained the Knights, 124-122. Heralded CC quarterback Chris Mills was only 5 of 10 passing, while Pioneer star running back Bryce Kiser (22 carries, 94 yards) already had 84 yards rushing. But the Knights had no turnovers, while Pioneer had two to go with a fateful failed fake punt.
Largely because of that latter item, Central Catholic (9-0) held a 14-0 lead.
The Panthers began the contest by driving from their own 32 to the Knights’ 9. They then gave the ball over on downs after the first of what would be many failed fourth-down attempts.
But Central Catholic couldn’t move, and Pioneer then drove to the CC 29 before again failing on a fourth-down effort. This time, though, Mills found senior wide receiver Connor Mackey (five catches, 140 yards) with a 51-yard pass to the Pioneer 4, and eventually he finished with a one-yard plunge to put the Knights on the board, 7-0.
In the second quarter, Pioneer (9-1) fumbled a punt return and set the Knights up at the Panther 38. Central Catholic couldn’t move, however, and gave the ball up on downs. The Panthers immediately produced a first down past the 30 … and just as quickly found themselves back at their 15 due to a dead ball personal foul.
This time it was the Panthers that couldn’t move, and they were forced to punt. At least that is what people thought. Instead, they tried a fake from their own 15 that came up short.
It took CC only two plays to capitalize. Mills, who finished 13 of 20 for 214 yards, found senior Marc Withers on a 24-yard pass that produced the halftime margin.
If the first half was frustrating for the Panthers, the third quarter had to have them talking to themselves after they held the Knights without a first down on their first three possessions.
Pioneer took over the first time at the Central Catholic 47. The Panthers failed to move and had to punt. They took possession the second time at the Knights’ 38 and drove to the 12, only to fail again on a fourth down and come away empty. The third time, they started at the CC 25 and threw an interception.
That kind of futility puts pressure on a defense under any circumstance. When you are playing against an offense that averaged more than 50 points a game in the regular season, it is only a matter of time before disaster hits.
It did on the Knights’ fourth possession of the second half. Mills hit Mackey with a 49-yard scoring strike, and the contest was essentially over.
Pioneer would never threaten again, and Central Catholic consumed more time than yardage on offense for the rest of the evening.
Next up for the Knights is an Oct. 30 road date at Frontier (5-5), a 34-0 home winner over Tri-County. The victor will advance the following week to face either No. 11 South Newton (8-2) or Caston (7-3) for the sectional championship.
Serious credit should be given to the Central Catholic defense.
“Defensively, they’re very, very good, and we knew that coming in,” Pioneer coach Mike Johnson told jconline.com. “We had to capitalize on our opportunities when we had the chance, and we didn’t do it.”
After the first two Pioneer possessions of the night, the Knights’ defense made it nearly impossible to run the ball. Take a look at the video, and you will get a taste of what I mean!
Sectional 34
#2 Lafayette Central Catholic 20, #1 Pioneer 0
Frontier 34, Tri-County 0
Caston 35, North White 20
#11 South Newton 30, Carroll (Flora) 7
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