LAKE OSWEGO – All week, Central Catholic heard about how Lakeridge was one of the most physical football teams in the state.
Friday night, the reigning state champion Rams delivered their own message, overpowering the host Pacers on both sides of the ball to win 40-17 in the quarterfinals of the 6A Open bracket.
“O-line, D-line, we balled out,” Central Catholic senior tackle Zac Stascausky said. “Lakeridge was – whatever – supposed to be one of the best D-lines in the state. We finished blocks, and they couldn't hang with us. They tapped out.”
Rams junior running back Tyson Davis returned to action after missing the team's first-round win with a shoulder injury and battered the Pacers, rushing for 157 yards and four touchdowns on a season-high 28 carries.
“We were better all-around,” Davis said. “They couldn't stop our running game. Outside zone, like six plays in a row, they couldn't tackle us. We were just getting yards. I just felt like we were the better team, that's it.”
It was a statement game for the No. 5 Rams (11-0), who had yet to play any of the elite teams from the rugged Three Rivers League. They got their chance against the No. 4 Pacers (7-3), the third-place team in the Three Rivers, and showed that they are a legitimate threat to win their fourth state championship in five postseasons.
“Every year it's the same thing, Three Rivers is the best league,” said the 6-foot-7, 287-pound Stascausky, a Washington commit. “And every year we come out here and put on a show.”
With the Rams' schedule, Davis said “no one respected us.”
“We came out here, put 40-17 on the board, now I think people will really look at us as a good team,” Davis said. “State championship contender now, for sure.”
Central Catholic advances to the semifinals to play No. 1 Lake Oswego (10-0), which routed No. 8 Mountainside 35-0 on Friday. Unfortunately for the Rams, the status of Davis is in question after he was ejected following his fourth touchdown run in the fourth quarter Friday. The ejection, from two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, carries a one-game suspension.
“I spun the ball around and just told them, 'Night-night,'” Davis said. “I'm going to try to appeal for it, try to get in the game next week, for sure. It's up in the air right now.”
The sore shoulder didn't seem to hinder the 6-1, 206-pound Davis at all Friday as he fought for every yard, punishing Lakeridge defenders. Davis said he went to physical therapy every day to get ready for the game.
“I didn't practice this week,” Davis said. “I was leaving practice early every day to get my shoulder done, get it taped up. Got it taped up this morning, it felt great in the game. I think I'm ready to go next week, for sure.”
Davis' hard running inspired his linemen.
“He's getting up, he's high-fiving the linemen,” Stascausky said. “Just for morale, it's huge. That's what the O-line is built on. That's why O-lines are closely knit. You have morale, you're playing together, you're winning football games.”
Central Catholic rushed for 220 of its 370 yards. The Rams got stronger as the game progressed, rushing for 147 yards in the second half. Junior Cole Thomas filled in for Davis in the fourth quarter and ran for 65 yards on three carries, including a 42-yard touchdown.
The Pacers, who entered allowing 10.8 points per game, were powerless to stop Central Catholic's attack.
“I think they're the best line we've gone against this year,” said Lakeridge junior defensive lineman Noah Tishendorf, who had the Pacers' only sack. “They've got a lot of talented guys. (Stascausky) is really good.”
Davis ran for a 16-yard touchdown to open the scoring in the first quarter, but Lakeridge junior quarterback Drew Weiler ran for a 16-yard score and threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to senior Zyon Floyd as the Pacers took a 14-6 lead early in the second quarter.
The Rams got a three-yard touchdown run from Davis and a 13-yard scoring pass from junior Robbie Long to junior Andreas Nicolaidis with four seconds left in the first half to lead 19-14.
Davis had touchdown runs of one yard in the third quarter and eight yards in the fourth quarter to expand the lead to 33-14, virtually sealing the victory.
“Unbelievable,” first-year Central Catholic coach Charlie Landgraf said of how his team controlled the Pacers. “We talked on Sunday about this game was going to be won up front on the offensive and defensive lines. We felt like we had a huge advantage, and I think you saw that tonight.
“Offensively, we just took over the game up front with the offensive line, and Tyson ran hard. And defensively, our front seven created pressure all night.”
Rams senior defensive lineman Kainoa Hayes had two sacks and senior linebacker Ty Newbury stripped Weiler of the ball, and recovered, after Lakeridge had reached the Central Catholic 1-yard line in the fourth quarter. Junior defensive back James Wade had an interception on a deep ball in the first quarter.
Lakeridge finished with 309 total yards. Weiler completed 22 of 28 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown with the one interception. The Pacers had 70 rushing yards, getting 38 yards on 12 carries from junior Ansu Sanoe.
Central Catholic's Long completed 12 of 21 passes for 150 yards and one touchdown with one interception. Senior Landon Kelsey had six catches for 87 yards.
jerryu@osaa.org
Subscribe
