Turnovers and a capitalizing on special teams pushed Hastings St. Cecilia over Grand Island Central Catholic on a rainy Friday night, 27-14.
Both teams combined for six turnovers, and featured a blocked punt, a kickoff fumble, a kickoff return touchdown, and a punt fumble.
The game started on a disastrous start for GICC, as the Crusaders fumbled the ball on the opening kickoff, but the Bluehawks could not punch the ball in from the 17 yard line.
After GICC was forced to punt on their second drive, the Crusaders defense kept St. Cecilia off the board with a Grayson Sack interception in the endzone.
However, the ball would be quickly coughed up. As the Crusaders were forced to punt, the ball went through the punter’s hands, leading to a Chase Evans 30 yard scoop and score.
The next GICC drive would end in a Crusader turnover, as a completed pass was squeezed out by a defender and scooped up by Dawson Kissinger. That turnover would be turned into Bluehawk points with a 49 yd touchdown catch from Chase Evans to Jenson Anderson at the 6:28 mark.
Central Catholic would get on the board before halftime, with Graham Strava picking off the Bluehawks after the three minute mark. Sack would punch in the first Crusader score to make the game a one-posession contest going into the locker room.
That one-score election would not last long. Anderson would haul the second half kickoff to the house.
Jenson Anderson takes the second half opening kickoff to the house at Grand Island’s Memorial Stadium. Hastings St. Cecilia defeated Grand Island Central Catholic, 27-14.
The Crusaders first drive would then get thwarted when Anderson stepped in front of a GICC pass. The second drive would be marred with another special teams gaffe, as St. Cecilia would block the punt and put the ball deep inside GICC territory. Quinn Rosno would turn the blocked punt into points with a 1 yard punch in to the endzone.
The third quarter scoring explosion would end with Grand Island Central Catholic connecting for a touchdown pass, and Jack Alberts tossing a 37 yard dime to Sack for the score.
Both teams would trade interceptions in the fourth quarter. Sack would step in front of an Chase Evans pass for the takeaway, but less than a minute away, Evans would step in front of a GICC pass to take the ball back. Both teams would trade turnovers on downs to end the contest.
Hastings St. Cecelia advanced to 5-0 on the season and will travel to 4-1 Kearney Catholic next week. You can read the recap from the Stars’ 16-0 victory over Amherst here.
Grand Island Central Catholic falls to 1-4 and will travel to 1-4 Wood River next Friday. Wood River fell to Doniphan-Trumbull tonight, 30-14.
CentralNebraskaToday.com’s Alex Hammeke with Hastings St. Cecilia’s Clint Head……
HASTINGS ST. CECILIA (5-0)……………………….0…7…7…0…27
GRAND ISLAND CENTRAL CATHOLIC (1-4)…0..14..13..0…14
10:02 Q2
St. Cecilia – Chase Evans 30 yard Punt Fumble TD (Jaden Almond XP Good)
Hastings St. Cecelia 7, Grand Island Central Catholic 0
6:28 Q2
St. Cecilia – 49 yard TD pass from Chase Evans to Jenson Anderson (Almond XP Good)
Hastings St. Cecelia 14, Grand Island Central Catholic 0
1:45 Q2
GICC – Greyson Sack QB Keeper TD (Axel Escalante XP Good)
Hastings St. Cecelia 14, Grand Island Central Catholic 7
11:49 Q3
St. Cecilia – Jenson Anderson Kickoff Return TD
Hastings St. Cecelia 21, Grand Island Central Catholic 7
5:15 Q3
St. Cecilia – Quinn Rosno 1 yd TD Rush (XP No Good)
Hastings St. Cecelia 27, Grand Island Central Catholic 7
0:58 Q3
GICC – Jack Alberts 37 yard TD Pass to Greyson Sack (Escalante XP Good)
Hastings St. Cecelia 27, Grand Island Central Catholic 14
