September 27, 2019
5
Boys’ Bowl
ANNUAL
BOWL Shamrocks Navigate Difficult Schedule Andrew Ciarelli ‘22 Staff Writer
After a tough loss to West Bloomfield in the 2018 playoffs that ended their run for a state title, the CC varsity football team is working hard to get there in 2019. Under new senior leadership, they came out swinging on August 31, narrowly beating the Detroit Martin Luther King Crusaders in the season opener at Wayne State. The Shamrocks got a strong lead in the first quarter, but King began closing the gap quickly. In the fourth quarter, the Crusaders closed the gap to 24-20, and after a bad snap that resulted in a safety, 24-22. A clutch interception by senior Cole Price was enough to hold the Crusaders back, though, and CC earned the 24-22 win. With a win in the season opener, the Shamrocks still faced a tough road over the next few weeks. At the varsity home opener at the Elm, they took on Toledo Whitmer, a team they’d beaten 35-7 last season. The Panthers managed to run the ball through the CC defense for a touchdown in the second quarter, but not long afterwards, the Shamrocks scored a TD of their own.
After halftime, Whitmer was able to score again, draining time from the clock in the process. Unfortunately, a late fourth quarter fumble led to the 14-7 loss. A week later, on September 13, the Shamrocks traveled to Ohio, where they took on the Central Catholic Fighting Irish. Neither team was able to gain an early lead, but the 0-0 score ended in the second quarter when a short Toledo run gave them the lead. Ultimately, the back-and-forth game ended as a 28-6 loss for the Shamrocks, dropping their record to 1-2. Last Friday on September 20, the Shamrocks defeated the Cubs of U of D Jesuit 31-15, evening their record at 2-2. So far, this has been one of the toughest schedules the varsity football team has seen in a long time. When asked about it, senior captain Gabe Xuereb said, “[The schedule] will for sure be more beneficial. It’ll give us more experience playing better teams for the playoffs.” Hopefully, playing harder teams earlier on, the ‘Rocks can pull through this season. Quarterback Jack Beno looks downfield.
Photo by Mr. Confer
The Man Who’s Been on Both Sides not, and that school spirit and school pride comes out.” The rivalry of CC and Brother Rice has a deep history of great games, across mulMr. Sofran, an admissions director at Catholic tiple sports. Mr. Sofran recalls some of Central, is a graduate of Brother Rice, the rival whom his best memories as Boys’ Bowl games. “Three years ago, when it was my first year at CC, Catholic Central plays in this year’s Boys’ Bowl. Now working as a Shamrock, he is one of very we won the Boys’ Bowl, and it was a special game few people who have been on both sides of the rival- for me, seeing how the kids from CC played, how they came back into the game ry. He has played as a Warrior against and how they battled it out.” CC in a Boys’ Bowl game, and he has This year’s Boys’ Bowl brought some of the best young men has a 2-2 Catholic Central in the region to Catholic Central. “In the Rice-CC game, against a 4-0 Brother Rice. Having been with both Brother Rice On this year’s Boys’ and CC, he has great insights into you give it your all, no Bowl, Mr. Sofran says, “In the rivalry from both perspectives. matter what...” the Rice-CC game, you give With his insights, he underit your all, no matter what stands how deep this rivalry record you have, or whethruns and how big it actually is. er you are having a good or “The CC - Brother Rice rivalry is the rivalry of the state of Michigan,” he bad season. From seeing both sides of the coin, says. “They are our rivals in every sport. The ri- I know that both teams will be ready to play.” The teams will play in the 75th valry goes blue and white blood deep, and it’s Boys’ Bowl on Sunday, September 29. great to be a part of that. People know about Diego Cabello ‘22 Staff Writer
CC and Brother Rice and what that stands for.” He continued, “The great thing about the rivalry is that kids acknowledge it whether you play a sport or Photo by Mr. Confer
Mr. Sofran coaches the boys on how to run the Wham
The Starting Lineup Starting Offense RB FB QB WR WR WR TE
Cole Price 17 Brendin Yatooma 37 Jack Beno 18 Jon Brewer 10 Jacob Young 16 Cody Daraban 22 Conor Cohan 82
T G C G T
Jack McDonald 74 Nolan Matthew 65 Steven Kolcheff 54 Gavin Nafso 53 Zach Carey 77
Starting Defense DE Sean Field 24 DT Bruno Guberinich 75 DT Nolan Matthew 65 DE Jack Birks 36 OLB Easton St. Clair C Jacob Young 16 LB Brendin Yatooma 37 LB Gabe Xuereb 48
OLB Moe Jaffer 34 FS Cody Daraban 22 C Jon Brewer 10
