By Nate Ritchey
nritchey@altoonamirror.com
HOMER CITY – Bishop Guilfoyle and Homer Center on the Grate in November has become an almost annual tradition.
The two programs have met several times in the district title games over the past decade, but on Friday night the Marauders and Wildcats met for the right to play in the title game.
After the competition, both coaches pointed out that in the course of a soccer game there are usually several moves that determine, change or even have a say in the outcome.
Fortunately for BG, this has been on the positive side of those moves on several occasions, as the defense had big turnover on losses that led to points and a late take-away rebound that helped build their 28-0 win in the District 6 grade seal 1A semifinals at Homer City Memorial Field.
“We meet because both of our programs are as good as they are.” That said Bishop Guilfoyle coach Justin Wheeler. “We play against each other because he’s one of the best coaches and they also have one of the best programs in the state. So every year we meet for a reason and they get us and we get them. It just seems like this rivalry that you never thought was going to happen. But for the past 10 years they have become our rival. Tonight our boys played early. And every time they (Homer Center) seemed to be getting a ride, we did a play. This game could have gone very differently, but I’m happy with the result. “
Course of the game: Gaining a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, BG’s defense came out big with four defeats at the beginning of the second quarter. Homer Center put together a 10-play drive that she had on the BG 12 with a First-and-10. The BG Defense allowed HC Landon Hill two yards on first down, tackled a one-yard loss to Cole Mcanulty on the second, then gave up two yards to Mike Krejocic on the third, before Mccanulty on the fourth 7 of incomplete was thrown by BG 9 to turn the ball around on downs. BG took over and put together his own long drive of 12 games, which Karson Kiesewetter completed with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Copper Rother to give BG a 21-0 lead before halftime.
Player of the game: Kiesewetter completed 10-of-16 passes for 122 yards with the TD pass on Rother. He also ran 13 times for 71 yards and two scores (a 10-yard scamper to get BG on the board at 6:30 of the opening verse, and then a 44-yard burst to get the next possession at 1:01 first get the result 14-0.
Kiesewetter: “It’s nice to see that we actually came together and stopped everything we had to stop. And that we came together and put it together on the offensive. “
Takeaway and Return to the House: After BG punted twice and Homer Center once to open the second half, the Wildcats took over, again looking like they had a chance to score points when they hit the field with a moved down 10 play drives to BG 31. In game 11, which was a first-and-10 from BG 31, Mccanulty completed a pass to Krejocic for a 6 yard win to BG 25 tackle and stole Krejocic the ball from your hands. After robbing the ball, Rother ran 75 yards to the house to set the final score at 28-0 with 1:13 in the third.
Rother: “I tried to hold him (Krejocic) in front of me to do the duel. I saw him swing the ball out a little. My strong security came over and made contact with him so I just tried to rip (the ball) apart. I got the ball from him and took it down and scored a goal. My teammates blocked for me and we brought it into the house. “
Unsung hero: In addition to Kiesewetter’s TD pass and 75 yard fumble recovery to the score, Rother carried the ball 16 times for 63 yards while catching seven passes for 70 yards. He also returned two punts for 11 yards each.
Key statistic: The Wilcats fumbled the ball three times and lost it twice – both times resulted in touchdowns (the Kiesewetter 10-yard score and the Rother 75-yard return). Bishop Guilfoyle had no sales now.
Cyclists: “There were only key moments in this game and we’ll talk about that before the game. I always tell the guys that there are four or five moves that change the game. The problem is, you don’t know when they will appear. So you have to play (play) each one like it’s the one. You saw that tonight when there were a few moments when a piece was being made and that changed the momentum in our direction. “
Homer Center Trainer Greg Page: “You (Bishop Guilfoyle) were the better team tonight – clearly. They made plays on time. We fumbled the ball and they pick it up and have a short field – then they run out. The only result in the second half, they take it from one of our best guys and bring it back into the house. “
Noteworthy: The Marauders were punished eight times for 65 yards. One cost BG points when Kiesewetter returned his fumble recovery 20 yards for a result, only to have it recalled by a personal foul blindside hit. The Wildcats have been whistled for just one penalty totaling five yards. … Guilfoyle’s Deven Wyandt attempted a 45-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, which was exactly in the middle, but fell short by about two yards. … Wyandt hit four times for an average of 39.3 yards per kick while Krejocic hit five punts for an average of 25.2 yards per kick.
Notes: Bishop Guilfoyle (8-4); Homer Center (8-4).
Next week: The Homer Center season is over; Bishop Guilfoyle will play Juniata Valley, a 21-7 winner over Portage, in the county title game this weekend.
EVALUATION BY QUARTERS
Bishop Guilfoyle 14 7 7 0 – 28
Homer Center 0 0 0 0 – 0
First quarter
BG – Kiesewetter 10th run (D. Wyandt-Kick), 6:30 am.
Run BG – Kiesewetter 44 (D. Wyandt-Kick), 1:01.
Second quarter
BG – Rother 7-Pass by Kiesewetter (D. Wyandt-Kick), 0:18.
Third quarter
BG-Rother 75 Fumble Recovery (D. Wyandt Kick), 1:13.
TEAM STATISTICS BG HC
First Downs 13 14
Total yards 260 171
Rush yards 33-128 40-130
Yards past 122 41
Passing (komp.-att.-int.) 10-16-0 6-12-0
Average points 4-39.3 5-25.2
Fumbles lost 0-0 3-2
Penalty yards 8-65 1-5
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Bishop Guilfoyle, Rother 16-63, Kiesewetter 13-71, K. Wyandt 1-3, Kissell 2-2, Hagg 1- (1). Homer Center, Troup 11-43, Hill 14-51, Mcanulty 7-16, Walbeck 3-1 ,. Krejocic 2-16, Rowland 1 – (- 4), Clevenger 2-7.
PASSING – Bishop Guilfoyle, Kiesewetter 10-16-0-122, Kissell 0-0-0-0. Homer Center, McNulty 6-12-0-41, Rowland 0-0-0-0.
RECEIVED – Bishop Guilfoyle, Rother 7-70, Yanoshak 1-30, Reilly 2-22. Homer Center, Rowland 3-27, Krejocic 2-17, Zenisek 1 – (- 3).
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