Rueber enjoys big day on offense
By Mike Ramczyk
After a rough couple of losses to start the season, the Catholic Central football team is finally able to exhale.
The Topper defense did the talking Sept. 2, suffocating host Shoreland Lutheran in a 21-0 shutout.
“It’s always nice to get that first victory of the year,” head coach Tom Aldrich said. “It makes everybody feel good and breathe a little easier.”
Now 1-0 in Metro Classic Conference action, the Toppers are 1-2 overall.
Head coach Tom Aldrich lauded his defense, which forced five turnovers and held the Pacers to 109 total yards.
“Defensively, we were able to play on their side of the line of scrimmage,” Aldrich said. “Our kids upfront did a great job of getting off the ball, pursuing and making gang tackles. Our secondary also did a really nice job executing their coverage. Basically, we were successful defensively because everybody did their job.”
Senior Aaron Rueber had a monster all-around performance.
He recorded the two Shoreland interceptions and scored two of the Toppers’ three touchdowns.
Rueber caught three passes for 46 yards, including a 32-yard scoring reception to build the Catholic Central lead to 14-0 late in the first half.
Then, Rueber capped off the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown run with 39 seconds in the third quarter.
Along with a stout defense, Catholic Central’s offense was balanced, with 145 passing yards and 112 rushing.
“Offensively, we were able to have a nicely balanced attack,” Aldrich said. “Chad Zirbel, Aaron Rueber and Kyle Goethal generated a bunch of that balance with their performances running, passing and receiving the ball. But, without the improved play of our offensive line, we would not have been nearly as effective or balanced in our offensive attack.”
Zirbel, in his third career varsity start at quarterback, threw two interceptions but made up for it.
Along with the touchdown pass to Rueber, the dual-threat junior opened the scoring with a 1-yard rushing score with 2:41 in the second quarter.
Goethal also enjoyed an impressive all-around showing, with 58 yards rushing on 15 carries and two catches for 29 yards.
Tyler Rieck, Cole Pankau and Payton Meinholz each added a reception from Zirbel, who went 9-for-21 for 119 yards through the air.
Catholic Central held Shoreland to 79 rushing yards and only 30 passing.
Bryce Hocking led the swarming, gang-tackling defense with 11 total tackles and a forced fumble.
Zirbel added 10 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Pankau and Jack Czerwinski each added fumble recoveries.
Catholic Central returns to MCC action Friday at Whitefish Bay Dominican.
“Our goal for this upcoming game is to be better than we were last week,” Aldrich said. “We can only do that by learning from our past mistakes and continuing to play with great attitude and outstanding effort.”
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