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Cougars win homecoming game

By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Kelly Steiner, first-year football coach at Centre High School, added another win Friday to his record when his team defeated Burrton, 60-24.

As has been the case most of the season, the Cougars had a slow start.

"We have got to come out with more intensity from the beginning of the game," Steiner said.

Centre gave up the ball to Burrton after the first possession, and the Chargers answered with a 39-yard reception for a touchdown. They led, 0-6.

Lance Diepenbrock and Bryant Brunner then led the Cougars down the field from their own 32-yard line to Burrton's 5-yard line, only to see the ball intercepted in the end zone.

Fortunately, Centre was able to recover a Burrton fumble not far from the goal line. After a couple of plays, Antoszyk ran in for a touchdown. The PAT failed and the game was tied, 6-6.

Early in the second quarter, Antoszyk scored again and Seth Jirak ran for the two-point conversion, resulting in a 14-6 Centre lead.

Halfway through the quarter, Burrton intercepted a pass near Centre's end zone and ran in for an easy touchdown. The PAT failed, and Centre retained a two-point lead.

Jirak and Antoszyk partnered in Centre's next possession to eat up yards. A pass from Antoszyk to Kevin Mueller placed the ball on the 8-yard line.

Antoszyk crossed the goal line for a touchdown and Jirak ran for two extra points. The score was 22-12.

On the next play, Burrton was tackled in the end zone for a safety.

Burrton scored again at the beginning of the third quarter. After a failed PAT, Centre led, 24-18.

After Centre turned the ball over on downs, Mueller got the ball back on an interception, and Antoszyk scored a touchdown. The two-point conversion failed, and the score stood at 30-18.

Halfway through the quarter, Diepenbrock rushed for the next touchdown and the PAT, and Centre led, 38-18.

On Burrton's next possession, Brunner recovered a fumble and ran the length of the field for a touchdown, but the play was called back on a push-in-the-back penalty against Centre.

The Cougars kept on hitting hard. With one-and-a-half minutes remaining in the third quarter, Diepenbrock scored again and Antoszyk completed the PAT. Centre led 46-18.

The Chargers added a touchdown as the quarter ended, making the score 46-24.

The fourth quarter seemed interminable, with endless plays and lots of action.

After a Centre punt, Burrton got the ball on their 3-yard line. The Cougars tackled the ball carrier in the end zone, boosting the score to 48-24.

In Centre's next possession, Brunner caught a deflected pass and ran in for a touchdown. The PAT failed and Centre led, 54-24.

After several incomplete passes by the Chargers, Jirak intercepted the ball on the Centre 33-yard line.

The Cougars marched down the field to Burrton's 2-yard line. James Weber caught a pass in the end zone to score Centre's final points.

The game ended with Centre leading 60-24.

The Cougars compiled an impressive 359 yards rushing, compared to 95 by Burrton. They lagged behind Burrton in the air, completing 10 of 18 passes for 91 yards, compared to 9 of 25 by Burrton for 145 yards.

Centre completed 20 first downs and Burrton six.

Antoszyk led the offense with 23 carries for 160 yards on the ground and nine passes for 90 yards in the air.

Diepenbrock tallied 17 carries for 120 yards. He also caught two passes for 34 yards.

Aaron Bowman led the defense with four unassisted and two assisted tackles and one fumble recovery. Jirak had three unassisted and three assisted tackles and one interception.

Centre now stands at 1-1 in district play. The two remaining district games are Little River Friday on the road and Goessel the following Thursday at home. The Cougars must win both games to be eligible for regional play. First and second place finishers advance.

Steiner expects a tough contest Friday.

"Little River likes to run the ball and has a very good halfback who is the coach's son," he said.

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