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Saints 'white out' Hawks for Corn Belt title
By Daniel Makarewicz
sports@pantagraph.com
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FAIRBURY -- Central Catholic football coach Bobby Moews knew the moment was special, so when it was suggested that his players wear all-white uniforms Friday night, the veteran coach obliged.

“It’s a special occasion,” Moews said. “We’re going for the conference championship. It’s been a long time since it’s happened.”

For the first time since 1992, the Saints won the Corn Belt Conference title outright and did it with a hard-fought 18-14 victory over Prairie Central at Lewis Field.

It’s only the third time in Moews’ 15 seasons that Central Catholic won the conference championship.

“It’s nice. You set out to do this every year,” said Moews, who has tied for the conference title in 1994 and 1996. “It’s a long struggle and my hats off to my kids.”

Prairie Central proved the road would be a struggle.

The Hawks (0-8 overall, 0-7 in the Corn Belt) blitzed to a 14-8 halftime lead thanks in large part to big plays. Prairie Central scored on its first play from scrimmage after Tyler Popejoy rumbled for 85 yards and used a 53-yard completion to Mark Schmitt to set up its second score late in the second half.

“We came and weren’t ready to play,” Central Catholic quarterback Adam Rebholz said.

With the momentum seemingly in the Hawks’ hands, Central Catholic (8-0, 8-0) went back to its bread and butter to regain control. After stopping Prairie Central three-and-out on its first two drives, the Saints used smash-mouth football to take the lead.

Taking possession with 6 minutes, 14 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Central Catholic used an 11-play, 60-yard drive to go ahead 15-14 after David Murray scored an a five-yard touchdown run.

The drive consumed 5:21 and featured nine rushes.

“That was big,” Moews said. “We finally started to get a push on them. We figured out we could run outside the tackle and let our guys read it. It became much more effective.”

So did the defense. Playing with the lead for the first time allowed Central Catholic to put pressure on the Hawks defensively. Steady play by the defensive line and linebackers allowed the Saints to control the second half.

All told, Central Catholic allowed five total yards in the second half and did not allow a single first down over the final 24 minutes.

“They play great defense,” said Prairie Central coach Brian Hassett, whose team went three-and-out on all five second-half possessions. “We got to give them credit.

The Saints finished with 322 yards of total offense with 193 coming on the ground. After rushing for only 68 yards in the first half, Central Catholic pounded the ball for 125 in the second.

“In the first half, we couldn’t quite get the run going,” said Rebholz, who passed for 129 yards but threw two interceptions. “But the second half, the line did a great job coming out. They made big holes.”

Pat McNeil finished with 24 carries for 113 yards. Murray scored the Saints’ first touchdown on a 28-yard fumble return in the second quarter. Michael Fenger capped Central Catholic’s scoring with a 26-yard field goal with three minutes remaining in the game.

The last time Central Catholic went undefeated in the league was 1991.

“It feels great,” Rebholz said. “There are not many teams that do that. It’s a great honor. It feels real good.”

Get area high school sports scores and statistics at Varsity Sports.

Take a look
Prairie Central's Chase Mowery,left, tackles CCHS #44 in Friday nights (10/13/07) at Praire Central. (pantagraph/B Mosher)
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Reader comments on this story - 8 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Go team Hozie wrote on Oct 13, 2007 11:13 AM:

" Tom "Tomas" Hozie was the best player in CCHS history. He never once had to go see Missa Morehass. Well there was that one time We can only refer to that as "The Incident" Tomas always passed. Because as we all know, if ju don not pass, ju will a fail. Rencurel is a hottie. "

U-HIGH GRAD wrote on Oct 13, 2007 10:37 AM:

" Well done Saints. It pains me to say it but it's good to see the conference championship back in the twin cities. I played tight end for the Pioneers in the late 90's and we had some great cross town battles. Hopefully the Green and Gold can get back to competetive football and we can resume the rivalries of the old days! "

Prairie Central wrote on Oct 13, 2007 10:20 AM:

" You guys did a great job.... you are going to be a really awesome team next year you have all the right stuff to be the champions next time. The game was great!!!!!! Congratulations on a number 1 team in the making....... Thanks PCHS We love you!!!!!!!! "

Are you serious? wrote on Oct 13, 2007 10:16 AM:

" One of the best teams in state. Now that’s laughable. "

Dang wrote on Oct 13, 2007 9:37 AM:

" P.C. Hawks what happened to you this year? You're better than this... "

Congrats wrote on Oct 13, 2007 7:48 AM:

" Congrats to CCHS on the out right title. Also congrats to the PC Hawks for not throwing in the towel and battling one of the best in the state down to the wire! "

Former Saint wrote on Oct 13, 2007 6:57 AM:

" I was on the 1991 team and I know what an accomplishment we made by going 9-1. It was the first time ever a team went 9-0 in regular season play. We've had some GREAT teams in the past and to do that was a great feeling! Being a Saints player is something to be proud of. I cried for probably a year after I graduated because I couldn't believe my time was over. Charish what you have now and always remember where you came from. People can't believe that I still go to the games and take my wife and kids. They don't know what TRADITION is all about. These are people who put on pads the same way I did but they haven't gone back to watch there team play. Records are set to be broken! Hang tough and be proud! Ya gotta believe! GO SAINTS!!!!! "

Toronto wrote on Oct 13, 2007 6:33 AM:

" Great job Saints! "
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