Guerin Catholic went toe-to-toe with one of the top offensive teams in the state on Friday.
The Golden Eagles battled visiting West Lafayette in the semi-finals of Class 3A Sectional 28 at the Eagles Nest, and had them tied at 31-31 late in the fourth quarter. But the No. 4-ranked Red Devils kicked a field goal with 1:46 left, and that was enough to send them past No. 10 Guerin Catholic 34-31.
The Golden Eagles scored first in the back-and-forth game, getting on the board after Luke Etchison kicked a field goal. West Lafayette responded with a quick touchdown run, and led 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Guerin took the lead back late in the second after Christian Gelov found Bernie McGuinness for a four-yard passing touchdown. That put GC up 10-7 with 1:33 left. But the Red Devils again answered, with a 16-yard pass play score, and they led 14-10 at halftime.
West Lafayette went up 17-10 after making a field goal, but the Golden Eagles got within 17-16 after Gus Baumgartner punched in a touchdown from the one-yard line. The Red Devils scored late in the third to lead 24-16.
Guerin Catholic tied the game up with 8:06 left in the fourth two passes from Gelov to McGuinness. The first was a three-yard touchdown throw, then the duo was successful on a two-point conversion throw. But West Lafayette’s explosive offense went back up right away, as Cannon Melchi took the kickoff return 85 yards to score.
Gelov threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Nick Demas, and Etchison made the extra-point kick to tie the game at 31-31, and that would be the score until the Red Devils’ game-winning field goal.
Gelov had an incredible game, completing 25 of 37 passes for 238 yards. McGuinness was just as outstanding, making 14 receptions. Baumgartner led the rushing with 97 yards.
The Golden Eagles finished the season 6-5.
WEST LAFAYETTE 34, GUERIN CATHOLIC 31
Score by Quarters
West Lafayette 7 7 10 10 – 34
Guerin Catholic 3 7 6 15 – 31
Team Stats WL GC
First Downs 17 25
By Rush 9 9
By Pass 8 13
By Penalty 0 3
Rushes-Yards 29-151 42-131
Yards Passing 218 238
Comp-Att-Int-TD 17-27-1-2 25-37-1-3
Fumbles 0-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 5-54 3-33
Punts-Average 2-39.5 2-32.0
Guerin Catholic Scoring
First Quarter
4:39 – Luke Etchison field goal
Second Quarter
1:33 – Bernie McGuinness 4-yard pass from Christian Gelov (Etchison kick)
Third Quarter
2:57 – Gus Baumgartner 1-yard run (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter
8:06 – McGuinness 3-yard pass from Gelov (McGuinness pass from Gelov)
5:23 – Nick Demas 22-yard pass from Gelov (Etchison kick)
Guerin Catholic individual stats
Rushing: Baumgartner 27-97, Gelov 11-54, Demas 1-2, team 3-minus 22.
Passing: Gelov 25-37-238.
Receiving: McGuinness 14-128, Demas 3-41, Dominic Ferrucci 3-22, Max McGreal 2-22, Baumgartner 2-14, Elijah Edwards 1-12.
Guerin Catholic’s Charlie Sawyer (55) gets the crowd pumped up after the Golden Eagles score in the fourth quarter of their Sectional 28 game with West Lafayette Friday at the Eagles’ Nest. (Richie Hall)