Cedar wins Top 10 battle to stay unbeaten
YUTAN — Cedar Catholic improved to 3-0 on the season and up to No.2 in some Class C2 polls with a 35-6 win over Yutan.
Both teams have been perennial C2 powerhouses over the past few years, but it was all Cedar Catholic on this night.
“We knew this was going to be a really tough game for our kids, so we prepared for it at a really high level,” Cedar Catholic coach Chad Cattau said. “I was really nervous because Yutan plays a physical style of play - I was hoping we could match their intensity. We did.”
Cedar Catholic went up 14-0 in the first 12 minutes when quarterback Andrew Jones ran for one score from two yards away, then found Jaxson Bernecker from 20 yards out to make it 14-0 in the opening frame.
“When you take a team on the road for the first time in a season, I think you find out about your team," Cattau said. " Things are much dierent on the road - especially when you go against a team you haven’t played that often. We handled things very well.”
Andrew Jones is adjusting well after taking over for three-year starter Tate Thoene behind center.
Yutan scored early in the second frame to get into the game, but the Trojan defense took it from there.
The Chiefs would not get back to the end zone while Ty Thoene sprinted for 30 yards in the third then Jones and Thoene scored in the final stanza to come away with the somewhat surprising win, 35-6.
The win wasn’t the surprise but the final score was.
“I thought our kids handled everything really well and were focused on the task at hand,” Cattau said. “We were fortunate to take advantage of an early turnover - it all worked out.”
Special teams have taken a part in the early success of the Trojans.
“We really kicked the ball well and won the field position game because of special teams,” the coach said. “This is an aspect of the game we have really tried to emphasize — the details of having a quality team in that phase of the game.”
The 29-point advantage was really not expected, Cattau said.
“Things happen during the game that make a very dicult game look easy," Cattau said. “We beat a very good football team tonight.”
The Trojans return to the field on the road this week when they travel to Logan View High School between Uehling and Oakland to take on Logan View/Scribner-Snyder.
Cedar 14 0 7 14 — 35 Yutan 0 6 0 0—6 FIRST QUARTER Cedar: Andrew Jones 2 run, Grant Arens kick, 10:32, 7-0. Cedar: Jaxson Bernecker 20 pass from Jones, Arens kick, 5:22, 14-0.
SECOND QUARTER Yutan: Jeff Arensburg 36 pass from Braxton Wentworth, kick blocked, 9:46, 14-6.
THIRD QUARTER Cedar: Ty Thoene 30 run, Arens kick, 3:59, 21-6.
FOURTH QUARTER Cedar: Jones 1 run, Arens kick, 11:55, 28-6. Cedar: Thoene 1 run, Arens kick, 6:33, 35-6 Cedar Yutan Pass 4-11-92 5-12-72 Rush 37-193 47-164 Total 48-285 59-236 Penalties 6-65 6-35 1st Downs 17 13 1st down rush 13 9 1st down pass 3 3 1st down pen 1 1 PASSING Cedar - Andrew Jones, 4-10-92. Yutan - Braxton Wentworth, 5-12-72. RUSHING Cedar- Ty Thoene,17-84; James Christensen, 8-54; Andrew Jones, 8-27; Spencer Albers, 1-13; Grant Arens, 2-12; Breiton Whitmire, 1-3. Yutan - Cole Smith, 13-43; Braxton Wentworth, 12-42; Zach Krajicek, 10-42; Max Egger, 3-14; Joey Benjamin, 1-13; Jesse Kult, 6-12. RECEIVING Jaxson Bernecker, 2-46; Ty Thoene, 1-43; Grant Arens, 1-3. Yutan - Jett Arensburg, 2-52; AJ Arensburg, 1-19; Zach Krajicek, 2-1.
TACKLES Cedar - Spencer Albers, 13; Jaelen Lammers, 9; Jay Steffen, 7; Carson Arens, 7; Jaxson Bernecker, 6; Owen Dendinger, 6; Karsan Albers, 5; James Christensen, 4; Keyton Arens, 4; Keaton Steffen, 3; Max Steffen, 3; Nolan Becker, 3; Cazden Christensen, 2; Ty Thoene, 2; Breiton Whitmire, 2; Jaymison Cattau, 1; Grant Arens, 1; James Fischer, 1; Braeden Kleinschmit, 1.