Published: November 12, 2009 10:59 pm      

FOOTBALL: Central takes on upstart

Clinton Central visits Indy Lutheran tonight for Class A regional

Clinton Central’s football team will look to maintain its hot play when it visits Indianapolis Lutheran tonight for a Class A regional championship game. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Central (8-4) blasted Tri-Central, Lapel and Guerin Catholic by a combined 135-26 margin to win its first sectional championship since 2002 and fourth overall. The Bulldogs are looking for their first regional title.

“They’re excited about [the sectional title], but I guess not really shocked. It’s something we started pointing to, about halfway through the season, as a really obtainable goal for them,” second-year Central coach Mike Quick said of his players. “We had three games there where we played really good defense and it was enough to get us a championship.”

Lutheran (8-4) beat West Washington, North Decatur and Indianapolis Scecina to claim its first sectional title. The Saints are in their fourth full season of competition.

“These are the original guys. This is the first class that has played four years of varsity football. We have 17 seniors,” Lutheran coach Dave Pasch said. “We’ve done a lot of growing together in two years — this is my second year at Lutheran.

“I think the one telling thing for us is we’re a very intelligent team week in and week out. We’re starting to eliminate penalties, we’re not turning the football over a great deal and we’re tackling and blocking — we’re doing some of the fundamental things that are required to win this time of the year.”

The Saints score 27.7 points per game and hold opponents to 14.3 ppg.

The Saints run a shotgun spread offense and a 4-3 defense. Quarterback Kyle Brockett triggers the offense. He threw a 55-yard TD pass with 44 seconds remaining to lift Lutheran past Scecina 13-7 last week.

“From what we’ve seen, they’re a team that likes to throw the ball around so it’s going to be a big challenge for our entire defense,” Quick said, noting the Saints have good skill players on both sides of the ball. “We’re going to have to make them earn every yard they get.

“Offensively, we’re going to have to try to win field position and control the football — be able to run and pass and keep our turnovers to an absolute minimum.”

The Bulldogs score 33.2 ppg and allow 14.3 ppg. Halfbacks Cody Cannaday and Jordan Woodard both have more than 1,000 rushing yards to lead the offense. Brody Quick and David Griffy both have more than 100 tackles to top the defense.

“They have a very good football team. They have good team speed and they’re big and physical up front — everything you’d want in a ballclub,” Pasch said. “I’ve known coach Quick from camps over the years and you know his teams are going to be fundamentally sound. They understand what they’re good at and they execute it.”

• Lutheran is located at 5555 S. Arlington Ave., Indianapolis.