By Bud Milroy
Sports Correspondent
Last year, it took a late touchdown for Catholic Central to complete a come-from-behind win over Black Hawk.
This year, the Hilltoppers needed a fourth-quarter stop on a two-point conversion attempt to secure a 14-12 Level One playoff win over the Warriors.
“Black Hawk was a physical, well-prepared team that was high motivated Friday,” said CCHS coach Tom Aldrich. “I thought our kids rose to the occasion and made the plays when they had to.”
The Hilltoppers drew first blood following a Zach Mehring interception. Six plays later, Carson Meinholz connected with Tyler Burzawa for a 21-yard touchdown, and Spencer Wilker’s extra point made it 7-0 with five seconds left in the first quarter.
Black Hawk scored on the next drive, capping the drive with a 51-yard touchdown run by Logan Steitz. The extra point failed and the ’Toppers had a slim 7-6 lead at the half.
The second half was highlighted by several key plays.
“Good teams, championship teams, play smart football, keep their composure and rise to the occasion,” Aldrich said. “I like what our kids showed.”
The Hilltoppers took the second-half kickoff and drove down the field to score, aided by a pair of 15-yard Black Hawk penalties. Meinholz’s one-yard run finished the drive, and Wilker added the extra point to make it 14-6.
The fourth quarter opened with Black Hawk continuing a drive started late in the third. Steitz went in from one yard out to pull his team with two, awaiting the two-point conversion attempt.
“They threw a little different look at us by sending a back in motion, but our guys held their ground and made the big stop on Steitz,” Aldrich said. “It was a big lift for us.”
However, Black Hawk recovered the ensuing onside kick. The Hilltopper defense stiffened, highlighted by Burzawa’s open-field tackle of Steitz, and Bailey Wright’s interception to end the drive.
Black Hawk had another possession late, moving to within the CCHS 30-yard line. Forced to throw, the next four passes all fell incomplete.
With the game on the line, CCHS senior Grant Alderman made the play of the game. Taking a handoff at the 29-yard line, it looked like Alderman would score. However, as he approached the goal line, he ran parallel to the end zone, going down at the one-yard line.
With 12 seconds left to go, Meinholz took a knee to run out the clock.
“That was one smart football play,” said CCHS assistant Mike Vanderbeke.
Alderman led CCHS with 105 yards rushing on 19 carries, while Meinholz was 7 of 10 in the air for 87 yards.
This week’s Level Two game will be at the Topper Bowl Saturday at 2 p.m., with CCHS hosting Randolph.
“They are big up front and have good speed in the backfield,” Aldrich said. “They’ll be a real challenge for us.”
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