Sporting WCA

Cats Win Defensive Battle during Carnival Weekend

The Wildcat football team highlighted Carnival with a 10-0 win over Christian High School on Saturday.

In a game where there was only 10 points over all four quarters, it is obvious to say that either team had trouble getting anything going on offense. Not only were their only 10 points, but there was zero offensive touchdowns in the game. This was largely due to three things, no Atlin Hall, rain from beginning to end, and great defense.

The first half saw no scores from either team. In fact, the first three quarters saw no scores from either team. Lots of broken plays, penalty’s, and slippery footballs is all that the first 36 minutes of the game saw. Finally, early in the fourth quarter, the Wildcat offense moved the ball far enough down field for Junior Kicker Andrew Kempen to convert a 37 yard field goal. The bulk of WCA’s 127 total offensive yards came on the drive that gave them a 3-0 lead with 8 minutes left in the contest. The Cats then recovered the kickoff coming after the field goal, and were able to run some time off the clock before punting. The CHS Eagles got the ball at their own 30 yard line with around 4 minutes left. Just about enough time to have one drive to win the game.

The drive got off to a rough start for the Eagles as John Fregene recorded his second sack of the game on the first play. However, Christian High responded with a couple passes that ate up a lot of yardage in a short amount of time. All of the sudden, the driving Eagles were on the Cats 38 yard line with 3 minutes left. The snap came and immediately there was penetration from the Wildcat D-line. Lee Alldredge was the first to get to the quarterback and hit him as he threw, all the Eagles could do was watch as John Fregene snagged the football at the 40, and took it all the way back. Fregene high-stepped into the endzone as the first and only player to reach the promised land all day.

When Fregene crossed the goal-line the game was all but over. Freshman safety Denver Parker stopped the Eagles on fourth down on the ensuing drive to put the icing on the cake in the 10-0 W.

The clear standout of the day was Fregene. The massive Junior Defensive Lineman recorded 9 tackles, 2 sacks, an interception returned for a touchdown, and yes… a pretty sweet celebration. Fregene also loosened up the mood on the sideline according to quarterback Chad Briden.

“Before, we were all a little nervous because it was a close game. But once John got the touchdown we all were laughing at his celebration and were relieved” said the Senior captain.

The conditions were definitely set against any offensive production in the game. But it wasn’t simply because of the rain, said Briden.

“On first down we set ourselves back to 2nd and long. We put ourselves in hard situations by fumbles or penalties”

However, the team came through when it counted to pick up the W. The cats play Borgia at home next Saturday, make sure to come out and watch the Cats finish off their regular season.