The first quarter of the Bishop Cup’s game between Guerin Catholic and Lafayette Central Catholic was all about the defense.
After that, it became an offensive runaway for the Golden Eagles.
Guerin blasted to a 50-28 victory over the Knights Friday at the Eagles Nest. The Class 3A No. 4 Golden Eagles used a spectacular rushing performance from Gus Baumgartner to claim the Bishop’s Cup from 1A No. 10 Central Catholic and improve to 2-0 for the season.
Both teams struggled with a couple turnovers in the first period, which limited the scoring to a late touchdown from the Knights. That put LCC up 7-0 going into the second quarter.
But Guerin Catholic grabbed the momentum during an 11-second span early in the period. Baumgartner scored his first touchdown of the game, a three-yard run with 9:24 to go in the second quarter. Baumgartner then made a two-point conversion run, putting GC up 8-7.
The Knights fumbled the return, so Guerin got the ball back right away. That turnover resulted in another touchdown, this time a 24-yard pass play from Christian Gelov to Bernie McGuinness.
“We certainly want to take advantage of some of the big turnovers we got in the first quarter and we did not do that,” said GC coach Tom Dilley. “But I think on one hand, you certainly want to do better in that situation. But our kids didn’t dwell on it and get down either, and that’s another positive. They just kept playing. They came back and made some plays.”
Central Catholic answered with a long touchdown run, getting back to within 15-14. The Golden Eagles had to wait a few minutes for their next score, but got it when Baumgartner made a seven-yard run with 2:16 to go. The Knights scored 35 seconds later, keeping within 22-21, but Guerin Catholic finished the half with another score by Baumgartner, and led 29-21 at the break.
Baumgartner rolled to two more touchdowns in the third period, from three and eight yards out respectively. He finished the game with five scores and 229 yards rushing.
The Golden Eagles picked up one more TD in the fourth quarter, on a 25-yard reception from Gelov to McGuinness. Gelov had an efficient night, completing 8 of 12 passes for 125 yards. McGuinness caught five receptions and totaled 116 yards. Luke Etchison made all six extra-point attempts.
Guerin Catholic plays at Heritage Christian next Friday.
GUERIN CATHOLIC 50, LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 28
Score by Quarters
Laf. Catholic 7 14 0 7 – 28
Guerin Catholic 0 29 7 14 – 50
Team Stats GC
Rushes-Yards 57-345
Yards Passing 125
Comp-Att-Int-TD 8-12-0-2
Penalties-Yards 4-30
Punts-Average 2-31.0
(Lafayette Central Catholic team stats were unavailable at press time)
Guerin Catholic Scoring
Second Quarter
9:24 – Gus Baumgartner 3-yard run (Baumgartner run)
9:13 – Bernie McGuinness 24-yard pass from Christian Gelov (Luke Etchison kick)
2:16 – Baumgartner 7-yard run (Etchison kick)
0:06 – Baumgartner 10-yard run (Etchison kick)
Third Quarter
8:39 – Baumgartner 3-yard run (Etchison kick)
Fourth Quarter
11:22 – Baumgartner 8-yard run (Etchison kick)
4:46 – McGuinness 26-yard pass from Gelov (Etchison kick)
Guerin Catholic individual stats
Rushing: Baumgartner 37-229, Gelov 8-53, Grant Harlowe 6=36, Brayden Hall 4-27, Patrick Schramm 1-0, team 1-0.
Passing: Gelov 8-12-125.
Receiving: McGuinness 5-116, Max McGreal 1-6, Dominic Ferrucci 1-3, Alex Gardner 1-1.
Guerin Catholic’s Bernie McGuinness reacts after scoring a second-quarter touchdown during the Golden Eagles’ Friday game with Lafayette Central Catholic at the Eagles Nest. (Richie Hall)