Guerin Catholic’s JB Ford (left, 16), Nathan Snyder (15) and Harrison Haq (right) talk during the Golden Eagles’ sectional victory over Hamilton Heights on Friday, Oct. 24. (Reporter photo by Richie Hall)
By RICHIE HALL
sports@readthereporter.com
ARCADIA – The Guerin Catholic football team won an opening-round game at Hamilton Heights 36-21 Friday, Oct. 24 in first-round play in Class 3A Sectional 29.
The Golden Eagles steadily built a 17-0 lead during the first quarter. Nick Wilson kicked a 33-yard field goal to get Guerin Catholic on the board at the 8:18 mark of the period.
The Klee brothers stepped up during the middle part of the quarter, as quarterback Quentin Klee connected with receiver Kolbe Klee for a six-yard touchdown. Quentin Klee threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Lewis late in the first period.
“I think there’s a genuine connection there because they just are good athletes that work hard in practice and they’re coachable,” Guerin Catholic coach Tom Dilley said of the Klee brothers. “And I’m sure it’s been accentuated a little bit because they’ve been playing together forever.”
The Hamilton Heights student section was out to support the Huskies. (Reporter photo by Richie Hall)
The Golden Eagles added two more points early in the second quarter with a safety, then Jack Linden punched the ball in from the one-yard line with just under nine minutes left in the period, giving GC a 26-0 lead.
AJ Flannagan scored the Huskies’ first points midway through the second quarter, taking a 16-yard run into the end zone for a touchdown. But the Klee brothers struck again seconds later, with Quentin throwing a 30-yard TD pass to Kolbe. Wilson added a 25-yard field goal before halftime, and Guerin Catholic led 36-14 at the break.
“I think our receivers are pretty good with the ball in their hands, but there were a few that they got into seams and were able to catch it on the run, too,” said Dilley.
Heights kept fighting in the second half, scoring two more touchdowns. Drew Woodruff threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Dre Chandler in the middle of the third quarter, then Woodruff connected with Jay Sykes late in the fourth quarter on a five-yard throw.
Hamilton Heights quarterback Drew Woodruff threw one touchdown pass during the Huskies’ game with Guerin Catholic. (Reporter photo by Richie Hall)
“They came out and fought like we challenged them,” said Huskies coach Jon Kirschner. “I can’t be more proud of how they rebounded. That showed true grit and we’ve done that time and time again throughout the season. When the chips get down, we fight and we fought tonight. and we just came up on the short end of it.”
“I have a lot of respect for this program, the school and this community, and they’re always solid and physical and fundamentally sound, so anytime you can beat a good team, it’s a good thing,” Dilley said of Heights.
Guerin Catholic is 6-4 and will host Crawfordsville this Friday in the semifinals of Sectional 29. Hamilton Heights finishes its season 4-6.
