Staff writer
Coach Kelly Steiner wasn’t happy with the eight penalties the Cougars had Friday in their game against Little River, but he was happy with the 42-6 victory on the road.
“We played well,” he said.
Centre lost 50 yards compared with 30 by Little River on penalties but kept Little River scoreless until the fourth quarter. The Cougars earned 13 first downs compared with eight by Little River.
Quarterback Tanner Brunner scored the first touchdown on a 37-yard run. Cole Svoboda caught a pass from Brunner for the 2-point conversion.
Rustyn Kerbs caught a 21-yard pass in the end zone for Centre’s second touchdown. A Brunner run gave the Cougars a 16-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Little River tightened its defenses in the second quarter, allowing only one touchdown, a 12-yard run by Brunner. After a missed conversion, Centre had a halftime lead of 22-0.
The Cougars struck gold twice in the third quarter: the first on a 39-yard run by Kerbs and a 2-point conversion run by Brunner; the second on an 18-yard pass from Brunner to Brian Burhoop.
Little River’s only points were scored on a 1-yard run at 10:13 in the fourth quarter. Brunner ran 20 yards for Centre’s final touchdown, resulting in a 42-6 victory.
Brunner completed six of 13 passes for 112 yards and rushed for 162 yards on 20 carries. He also was the leading defender, with 10 assists and 11 solo tackles.
Kerbs was the leading receiver, grabbing four passes for 84 yards and one touchdown. In addition, Kerbs came behind Brunner with five carries for 54 yards.
Casey Kristek carried the ball 12 times for 62 yards. Playing defense, he provided 12 assists and five solo tackles.
Coach Steiner attributed Little River’s poor showing to the team’s young, inexperienced players.
“They will be very good the next couple of years,” he said.
Centre will play at Hope Friday.
statistics
Rushing: Centre 42c-297, L.R. 37c-105.
Leading rushers: Brunner 20c-162, Adam Kristek 12c-62, Kerbs 5c-64.
Passing: Brunner 6-of-13, two intercepted passes.
Pass receptions: Kerbs 4-for-84.
Tackles (assisted-solo): Brunner 10-11, Kristek 12-5, Kerbs 4-5, Svoboda 3-4, Burhoop 2-2, Kordell Harding 2-2, Trevor Hageberg 2-1, Shane Methvin 2-3, Jacob Jennings 0-2.