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For a Central Catholic High School football team that refused to be denied all season, the critical play's outcome was hardly in doubt.

Rebholz bulled through the Aurora Christian defender for a touchdown, Kendall Cox booted the extra point and a Saints had completed a fantastic foursome 26 years in the making with a 37-28 victory in the Class 4A championship game Friday at Memorial Stadium.

With Rebholz and fullback David Murray haunting the Eagles' defense with one momentous play after another, Central Catholic emerged from an offensive shootout to become the first school in state history to win championships in four different classes.

"Tradition at Central Catholic is something we're really proud of," said Murray, who rushed for 65 yards and caught four passes for 71 more. "To win our fourth state championship is something we'll remember forever."

Rebholz passed for 319 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for a team-high 80 yards and two more scores.

"We've been business-like all season. We met our goal tonight," Rebholz said. "We played great. When we couldn't run the ball, we passed. When we couldn't pass the ball, we ran. The dual threat really helped us out."

The top-ranked Saints (14-0) added a fourth state championship to their previous title trio of Class 2A in 1982, 1A in '87 and 3A in '94.

"Everything they got this year, they deserved. We fought and fought and fought and finally pulled it off," Central coach Bobby Moews said. "I want to thank the seniors for letting me be a part of coaching them. They are outstanding players and outstanding kids. This is the most unselfish group I've ever been around."

The Saints needed their 487 yards of total offense with Aurora Christian gunslinger Jordan Roberts completing 27 of 55 passes for 365 yards and four touchdowns.

"We all just witnessed a great football game," Eagles' coach Don Beebe said. "It was two phenomenal quarterbacks going at it. We just didn't stop them as many times as they stopped us. It was certainly the two best teams in 4A playing, no doubt about that."

After fourth-ranked Aurora Christian (13-1) pulled within 30-28 at the 4:50 mark on a 7-yard TD pass from Roberts to Matt Morse, the Saints set out on a season-defining drive.

With a 38-yard Rebholz pass to Dylan Johnson the key play, Central Catholic marched 65 yards on seven snaps for a touchdown while draining the clock under 90 seconds.

"We have emotionally, spiritually and together accomplished our goal," said two-way standout lineman Joe Ring. "We love playing with each other. What this team does well is make plays when we need to."

The Saints assumed a 27-14 advantage on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Rebholz to Drew Talkington to open the second-half scoring.

"We had to stay aggressive," said Moews. "We had to do what we do best, play action, run the ball, mix it up."

Roberts found Morse for a 24-yard TD strike to cap an 87-yard drive. But Cox's 24-yard field goal at the 8:07 juncture of the final quarter put the Eagles out of one-score range at 30-21.

"That's the best team we played all year," Roberts said. "Their QB was awesome. They executed their plays and we had a few mess-ups on defense."

An entertaining first half saw the Saints recapture the lead with 17 seconds remaining as Murray scored from 1 yard out behind blocks from Nathan Yelton and Ring. Murray also ran for the two-point conversion to send Central Catholic into the locker room with a 20-14 margin.

On the snap before Murray's touchdown, Rebholz tossed a pinpoint 35-yard pass to Ben Heaton between two Aurora Christian defenders down to the 1-yard line.

The Saints struck quickly on their first possession. Rebholz ducked under a rushing defender and found Johnson, who made nifty moves to elude two defenders on his way to a 69-yard touchdown connection. The kick for extra point was wide.

Aurora Christian capped a 45-yard drive with a 7-yard scoring pass from Roberts to David Zielke. Jake van Gilse's extra point gave the Eagles a 7-6 lead.

Rebholz's 20-yard touchdown scamper (the conversion pass was incomplete) was followed on the next play from scrimmage by a 72-yard TD hook up from Roberts to Zielke.

Saints celebration

The Central Catholic football team will be recognized with a public reception at the high school at noon today. The school is located at 1201 Airport Road, Bloomington.

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Scoring summary

First quarter

CC - 9:03 - Adam Rebholz 69-yard TD pass to Dylan Johnson (kick failed)

Second quarter

AC - 9:57 - Jordan Roberts 7-yard TD pass to David Zielke (Jake van Gilse kick)

CC - 8:01 - Adam Rebholz 20-yard TD run (pass failed)

AC - 7:45 - Jordan Roberts 72-yard TD pass to David Zielke (Jake van Gilse kick)

CC - 0:17 - David Murray 1-yard TD run (Murray run)

Third quarter

CC - 9:17 - Adam Rebholz 6-yard TD pass to Drew Talkington (Kendall Cox kick)

AC - 5:54 - Jordan Roberts 24-yard TD pass to Matt Morris (Jake van Gilse kick)

Fourth quarter

CC - 8:07 - Kendall Cox 24-yard field goal

AC - 4:50 - Jordan Roberts 7-yard TD pass to Matt Morris (Jake van Gilse kick)

CC - 1:28 - Adam Rebholz 1-yard TD run (Kendall Cox kick good)