Golden Eagles run away from Central Catholic, Linden scores four TDs

By CRAIG ADKINS

For The Reporter

NOBLESVILLE – The Friday, Oct. 17 regular season finale will stick with the Guerin Catholic football team, especially senior running back Jack Linden.

Linden had one of his better games of the season with four scores and there were three lead changes in the first quarter alone before Guerin Catholic was able to pull ahead of Lafayette Central Catholic to claim the Bishop William L. Higi Wooden Cannon game, 59-28.

The Knights scored on their first drive when freshman quarterback Dru Stapleton found Wyatt Williams to get up 7-0.

“I wasn’t pleased and I don’t think our guys were pleased with our energy to start the game,” said Guerin Catholic head coach Tom Dilley. “We were a step behind them and that can’t happen again. But I don’t think it necessarily fazed our guys and they just kept playing better and didn’t get down. We can’t start playing five minutes after the game starts.”

Guerin’s first series had them down to the LCC 20 where Nick Wilson sailed a 37-yard field goal through the uprights to cut it to 7-3.

Then, they forced Central Catholic to punt, pinning GC deep at its own three. On the first play of the next Guerin series, Jack Linden took the quick handoff from Quentin Klee and sprinted untouched 97-yards for his first score and a 10-7 lead.

LCC’s next drive resulted in a rushing touchdown by Mason Meister for a 14-10 lead.

Guerin grabbed the lead at 17-14 on the first play of the next drive. Klee connected with sophomore brother Kolbe on a screen and the younger Klee raced down the LCC sideline 53 yards.

“I think offensively, there was a good game plan,” added Dilley. “I thought the offensive coaches, Dan Muchler is our offensive coordinator, he did a great job of preloading our practice plans. Muchler missed a couple of days welcoming a new baby last Monday.”

Linden’s second score on a three-yard dive made it 24-14 toward the end of the first and then with 31 seconds left in the lengthy first, Kolbe Klee scored a rushing TD on an end around from 35-yards out.

“We know Kolbe has that ability at any time and Jack has that ability as well. The offensive line played a little better tonight, even though that was a bit of a patchwork,” Dilley said. “We lost starting right tackle Will Countryman to injury after the first drive and had to improvise again, so they did a nice job, all things considered.”

The Klee-to-Klee combo was at it again on Guerin’s series. Quentin found Kolbe again, this time for a 28-yard touchdown and a 38-14 advantage.

“They have a good connection and have a good chemistry. They really support each other and it’s really funny in practice when they get mad at each other. That’s probably some of the most enjoyable moments we can think of in practice. They have a good working relationship and obviously have been doing it a while,” Dilley said of the Klee brothers.

After the Knights turned the ball over on downs at Guerin’s 32, Quentin hit Trevor Macey on a short route, turning it into a 32-yard touchdown for 45-21. LCC scored on a TD pass in the middle of the second.

Isaac Justin’s punt return got the Golden Eagles to the Knights’ 15. A few plays later, Linden scored his third touchdown, plunging into the end zone for the 52-21 halftime lead.

Jack Linden scored a fourth time on the first series of the second half for a 59-21 score.

Later in the fourth, LCC tacked on a fourth score for the difference of 31 points.

Quentin was 13 of 19 for 223 yards and three touchdowns.

Linden finished with 17 carries for 167 yards, four for scores. Kolbe Klee had two runs for 41, along with three catches for 81 yards. Macey caught three for 68 and Linden three for 59 to highlight the receiving.

Guerin Catholic (5-4) heads to Hamilton Heights on Friday for an all-county game in 3A Sectional 29. Lafayette Central Catholic (2-7) visits Seeger (8-1) in 2A Sectional 34.