By Bud Milroy
Sports correspondent
It’s a clichéd old sports adage – there’s no offense like a good defense.
The Catholic Central defense showed as much Friday night, ripping the ball away from visiting Shoreland Lutheran en route to a convincing 41-20 Midwest Classic Conference-South victory.
The win keeps the Hilltoppers’ hopes for a conference title alive as they head into this Friday’s showdown with conference leader Racine St. Catherine’s at Horlick Field at 7 p.m.
A CCHS win would secure a tie for the title with at least the Angels and possibly Kenosha St. Joseph as well.
CCHS coach Tom Aldrich was pleased with the win, which also clinched a playoff berth for the Hilltoppers.
“This was a nice win for us,” the coach said. “The kids wanted this real bad and I’m glad they got it.”
As well as the Hilltoppers played defensive, the game didn’t start well for them. Shoreland took the opening kickoff and began to pound the ball down the field. Kory Robinson found a huge hole on the left side and bolted 54 yards for the score, and the extra point made it 7-0.
“We had a missed assignment on that early score and they took advantage of it,” Aldrich said.
The Hilltoppers couldn’t get anywhere on their next drive, but forced a three-and-out from Shoreland to get the ball back. Using the running game, Grant Alderman capped a solid drive with a touchdown run, and T.J. Walkington’s extra point made it 7-7.
The second quarter saw the ’Toppers begin their takeaway party. Shoreland quarterback Clay Rust’s pitch was knocked down by Abel Wagner, who also recovered the ball. CCHS quarterback Carson Meinholz wasted no time on the next play, racing 57 yards for the score.
The Hilltoppers would score twice more – one off another fumble that Grant Alderman picked up and scored on – before the half and led 28-7 heading into the break.
Next up is St. Cat’s, again with the MCC on the line. The Angels are ranked 13th in the Wissports.net coaches poll for Division 4 schools.
“St. Catherine’s is a very talented team on both sides of the ball,” Aldrich said. “They fly to the ball real well defensively and are very potent offensively. There’s a reason they haven’t lost in conference play.”
For more on the Hilltoppers, please see the print edition of the Burlington Standard Press.
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