October 14, 2015 // Uncategorized

CYO and ICCL teams battle into post season

Todays Catholic

St. Matthew wins ICCL football playoff
St. Matthew defeated West Side Catholic, 27-12, in Inter-City Catholic football tournament action Oct. 11 at Saint Joseph High School in South Bend. St. Matthew got three touchdowns from Christian Tate on a 35-yard run, 50-yard run and a 100-yard interception return. Isua Gonzalez added a three-yard TD run for the Blazers. Derek Derda had a 30-yard TD run and a 45-yard TD pass to Kabeb Lewandowski for the Cardinals. Above, West Side Catholic’s Derda lofts the football during ICCL playoff action.

CYO football to begin tournament play 

FORT WAYNE — With a sixth game in the books, the 2015 regular season came to an end for the four Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) football teams on Sunday, Oct. 11. The Knights, a team made up of players from St. Elizabeth, St. Therese, St. John the Baptist, Fort Wayne, St. Joseph-Hessen Cassel, wound up with a third-place finish in the league and a 2-4 record to date.

In their final outing, the Knights beat a Central Catholic crew who showed a lot of heart. “We have had a tough season plagued with several injuries to key players, but played very well today and have high hopes as we prepare for the post season,” Coach Chris Brough explained.

Led all season by players like their amazing seventh-grade quarterback, Antoine Taylor, eighth-grader Will Derrick (offensive, defensive tackle) and Grant Brough (center, linebacker, guard), the Knights plan to “get healthy and minimize their mistakes” in order to give St. Vincent a run in their opening game of the playoffs on Sunday, Oct. 18, at Bishop D’Arcy Stadium at the University of Saint Francis. They list 26 on their roster.

Also facing off in the first round of tournament play will be the No. 1 seed and undefeated St. Charles squad against Central Catholic. The Cards captured the regular season CYO Championship with a 46-0 victory over St. Vincent at Bishop D’Arcy Stadium. The St. Charles offense was once again explosive with their outstanding running backs Patrick Finley and Hayden Ellinger, who combined for five rushing touchdowns.

And regarding the St. Charles defense, Coach Sam Talarico said, “This team has been absolutely dominating from a defensive perspective. We have the best defensive coordinator around in Gary Cornewell. Coach Cornewell knows how to get the most out of players.”

Talarico added, “Our defensive ends — Lucas Krohn and Braden Groves are very strong and our defensive line and defensive back groups are also outstanding. Free safety Patrick O’Keefe serves as a defensive field general directing his troops in front of him.”

The victory stretches the St. Charles win streak to 17 games over three seasons.

CYO volleyball league champs announced

FORT WAYNE — The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) volleyball teams are wrapping up the 2015 season. The regular season came to a close over the weekend of Oct. 10-11.

For the seventh-grade league, St. Charles came back to beat St. Vincent in three, 18-25, 25-10, 15-12 and improve to 12-2 overall (9-0 league). Assistant coach Larry Hoffman summarized, “It’s been a good time and a good season.”

In the large school division, St. Vincent beat St. Joseph, Decatur, on Oct. 4 to go unbeaten and capture their league, and St. Joseph-Hessen Cassel claimed the Blue League title with a win over St. Rose-St. Louis.

Finally, in junior varsity tournament action, three new champions were crowned at Queen of Angels. For the fifth graders, St. Charles downed St. Vincent in three, 22-25, 25-16 and 15-12. In the small schools, St. John the Baptist, Fort Wayne, squeaked by St. Aloysius, 25-23, 25-24, and for the sixth graders, it was St. Joseph, Decatur, winning it all 22-25, 25-17, 15-10 over St. Vincent.