That’s two — Central junior defensive end Bennett Becker tackles Freeburg quarterback Joe Carmack for a safety in the Cougars’ second-round, 42-7 win over the Midgets in Class 4A action. Becker had four tackles and two sacks in the victory. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO For the second time this season, the Central Cougars’ defense shut down the Freeburg Midgets’ rushing attack in a 42-7, IHSA second-round playoff game on Saturday at Robert J. Astroth Field in Breese.
Back in week four of the regular season, the Cougars handed the Midgets their lone regular-season loss of the season with a 49-0 triumph where FCHS had just 28 yards on the ground.
The playoff edition on Saturday saw the Cougars allow just one score late in the fourth quarter. Freeburg had just 39 yards on 31 carries for the day.
Meanwhile, Central sophomore quarterback Owen Kehrer was on his game with a 10-of-13 day for 252 yards and five touchdowns, all coming in the first 24 minutes.
“Our offensive line played great again today,” said Kehrer. “I think I got touched once or twice and the guys made great catches.”
With the victory, the Cougars advance to the quarterfinal for the third season in a row and their fourth in the past five seasons.
What a play — Central senior wide receiver Conlan Haar uses one hand to bring in one of his two touchdown catches in the Cougars’ 42-7, second-round victory over Brady Kerr and Freeburg on Saturday in the Class 4A State playoffs. PHOTO BY CRAIG HUEGEN “I’m really proud of these guys,” said Central head coach Brian Short. “A couple of years ago, it was man, how do we get to the next level. We are not taking this for granted at all, but to get here three years in a row. It’s a testament to the guys on the coaching staff and the hard work that our kids put in each and every week.”
They will now take on a talented Cahokia bunch that sits at 9-2 this season with losses to Lift For Life Academy and Sycamore. They feature powerful running back Donald Collier with 752 yards and 18 touchdowns this season.
Kickoff on Saturday is at 2 p.m.
As for Saturday’s win for the Cougars, the defense set the tone with Freeburg losing four yards on their opening drive which resulted in a three-and-out.
“Our guys love playing defense and we put a lot of time into it,” added Short. “Our guys executed the game plan to a T today.”
Brotherly love — Central senior Ean Kehrer hauls in a 19-yard touchdown from his younger bother Owen Kehrer in the first half of the Cougars’ 42-7 win over visiting Freeburg in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO Central needed just three plays to capitalize when Kehrer hit Conlan Haar down the home sideline for an 83-yard touchdown completion and a 7-0 lead. The TD was the third longest passing touchdown in school history.
After a second Freeburg punt, the Cougars’ aerial attack went back to work when Kehrer hit brother Ean Kehrer for a 19-yard touchdown completion down the seam for a 13-0 lead.
“Owen is a pretty special football player,” said Short. “We are so excited for him right now and also what the future has for him.”
Freeburg got their first, first down of the game on their ensuing possession before they turned the ball over on downs at midfield.
The Cougars used eight plays to get to their third score of the game on a drive that ended with 10:30 left in the second quarter when Kehrer hooked up with Haar again for a 20-0 lead on a 26-yard score.
“He has made some great catches for us and he is an excellent football player,” added Short.
Freeburg got another first down on their next possession, only to see it shut down by a sack from Bennett Becker.
Central got the ball back midway through the second quarter and needed to punt for the first time in the contest.
The Central defense got in on the fun when Becker grabbed his second sack of the game, this one counting for two points and a safety for a 22-0 lead.
Get out of my way — Central senior wide receiver Bryce Wieter lowers his shoulder to bust past a Freeburg defender for one of his two touchdowns on Saturday in the Cougars’ 42-7, Class 4A second-round playoff win over the Midgets in Breese. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO After the ensuing kickoff, the Cougars’ offense went right back to work when Kehrer hit senior Bryce Wieter for a 31-yard touchdown and a 29-0 lead with 3:42 left in the opening half.
Freeburg turned the ball over on downs once again, giving the Cougars a short field late in the half.
Central needed just three plays this time when Kehrer hit Wieter again, this time for a 21-yard touchdown with two minutes left in the half for a 36-0 lead at the break.
Central had 281 yards of total offense in the first half while Freeburg had just nine yards of total offense.
The first drive of the second half was a steady dose of senior Cole Davis as he ran the ball five-straight times with the last of those going for a 45-yard touchdown run and a running clock lead of 42-0.
The carry put Davis over the 1,000 yards rushing mark on the season which is just the 10th player to accomplish the feat in school history. He currently sits seventh all time.
Central put the second-string offense and defense in from that point and the third quarter was scoreless the rest of the way.
AJ Vahkamp ended the shutout for the Cougars when the Midget running back scored from nine yards out with 4:51 left in the game to wrap up the scoring.
Kehrer had touchdown passes to both Haar and Wieter with Wieter having three catches for 76 yards while Haar had four catches for 136 yards.
Davis finished with eight carries for 94 yards and a touchdown while Login Smith ran the ball nine times for 88 yards.
Payne Lynch and Jackson Kampwerth each had six tackles for the Cougars with Becker having two sacks and four tackles. Central had five more tackles which makes 15 in the last two contests.
FCHS leading rusher Cooper Kisgen was held to just 11 carries for 18 yards. Quarterback Joseph Carmack was 7-of-15 for 98 yards. Colt Hess had five tackles for Freeburg who ended the season at 9-2, with both losses coming to the Cougars.
