By RICHIE HALL
Guerin Catholic got back in on the winning track Friday, just in time for the first round of the post-season.
The Golden Eagles took care of Crawfordsville 49-19 at the Eagles Nest to open play in Class 3A Sectional 26. Guerin had lost two games in a row, but got itself together and advanced to the sectional semi-finals, which will be played next Friday.
“The bottom line is just to play well,” said GC coach Tom Dilley. “Certainly there are plenty of things I’m sure we could’ve done a lot better and there are probably some things we did pretty well.”
The Golden Eagles got off to a great start, scoring on their first drive. It only took 78 seconds for Guerin Catholic to get in the end zone, which it did when Jagger Albert ran in 41 yards for a touchdown.
That was the start of a sensational night for Albert. The sophomore was elevated into a leading running back role due to injuries, and he responded well. Albert added two more touchdowns in the first quarter, both on short runs.
“It sure seemed like it,” said Dilley about Albert being the next man up. “He caught a few balls and ran hard and did a good job blocking.”
Up 21-0 after the first quarter, the Golden Eagles made the score 35-0 midway through the second with two quick TDs. Brayden Hall ran the ball in 14 yards for Guerin’s first score with 6:52 remaining in the period. Fifteen seconds later, Daniel Rhoad grabbed an interception and returned it 39 yards to the end zone. The 35-0 score would stand at halftime.
Albert picked up his fourth touchdown of the game early in the third quarter, scoring on a four-yard run. The Athenians got on the board with 3:59 left in the period, but the Golden Eagles answered with one more touchdown: Hall punched the ball in from the 1 in the opening play of the fourth quarter. Crawfordsville scored two more touchdowns in the fourth, but the game had already been decided.
As a team, Guerin Catholic was 7-of-7 on extra points. Nathan Friedman kicked five of them, with Kian Shinaver making the other two.
Albert finished the game with 113 yards on 10 rushes, while Hall gained 67 yards on nine carries. Quarterback Christian Gelov completed 5 of 8 passes for 72 yards. Patrick Hagel and Bernie McGuinness both caught one 30-yard reception each, and both those catches would set up touchdown runs for the Golden Eagles.
Guerin Catholic is 6-4 for the season and will host Brebeuf Jesuit in next week’s sectional semi-finals.
Guerin Catholic’s Brayden Hall looks for more yardage while evading the Crawfordsville defense during the Golden Eagles-Athenians sectional football game Friday at the Eagles Nest. Guerin Catholic won 49-21.
Click this link to view more pictures. (Kent Graham)
Jagger Albert scored four touchdowns for Guerin Catholic on Friday. (Kent Graham)