Cavs ramble through the rain and into sectional finals
CULVER — After exploding for 68 points last week, the defense took center stage this time as Culver shut out South Central, 18-0, Friday at home to advance to the Class 1A Sectional 41 championship game.
“I challenged the defense this week,” said Culver head coach Mike Zehner, whose team did give up 34 points in its sectional opener. “Our kids bucked up. South Central is a quality opponent and I’m glad we jumped on them like we did. I don’t know how many sacks (Ben Lee) had, but that kid was the player of the game.”
Played almost entirely in a heavy rain storm, Lee was in the Satellites muddy backfield a lot, playing a major part in the Cavaliers holding SC to just one yard rushing and 7-for-25 passing with an interception.
“We switched some things up with him, gave him a different technique, and really made him rush the quarterback,” Zehner said of the junior linebacker who had three sacks unofficially. “He responded well. The whole defense did.”
The game did not start off well for the Cavs (4-5) though, as they fumbled on the first play of the game.
SC (5-4) had great field position at the Culver 19, but the Cavs gave up just three yards in four plays.
Culver’s second possession was much better as Emiliano Ortiz sped around right end for a 71-yard touchdown run to stake the home team to an early 6-0 lead.
The Cavs had another fumble early in the second period, but was able to force an SC fumble on the very next play, then needed just seven running plays to get back into the end zone for a 12-0 lead that held until halftime. Tucker Fisher plunged in from a yard out to complete the series.
At the intermission, despite Culver’s two fumbles, they had out-rushed SC 176-5 and the Satellites were just 3-of-11 passing at that point. SC started five of its six first-half possessions near midfield or better, but had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard.
“I loved how our kids responded there,” Zehner said. “There are times when you have three wins on the season and you tuck your tail and give up (a touchdown) there. It tells how far we have come as a football team. It tells how far we have come as a football program.”
As the field conditions deteriorated, the third quarter was scoreless, then Culver put the punctuation mark on the win when Blake Thompson scampered up the middle for a 28-yard touchdown late in the fourth period.
“I loved how our offense grounded it out,” concluded Zehner. “If this weather isn’t perfect for the Power T, I don’t know what is. Ortiz and that counter play (in the first quarter), that was huge. It gave us some momentum and then we just grounded it out from there. I would have liked to see a couple more scores, but we’ll take it.”
Shane Shuman was Culver’s leading rusher with 106 yards on 27 carries. Ortiz finished with 91 yards on just nine carries and Thompson added 52 yards on six carries. Besides Lee, Auston Zehner, Alex Zehner and Marquez Anderson each had sacks while Jason Cadle had the interception.
• CULVER 18, S.CENTRAL 0 Sectional 41 semifinal
At Culver
Score by quarters
S. Central 0 0 0 0 - 0 Culver 6 6 0 6 - 18
C - Emiliano Ortiz 71 run (pass failed)
C - Tucker Fisher 1 run (run failed) C - Blake Thompson 28 run (run failed)