Centre at Goessel
?Given the recent history of the matchup, any Cougars win over the Bluebirds would be seen as an upset. That Centre scored first and played with a lead most of the night stunned Goessel supporters Friday.
The Cougars totaled 248 rushing yards but passed for three of their five touchdowns en route to a 38-24 victory.
Halfback Rustyn Kerbs caught two touchdown passes from Tanner Brunner, who totaled 116 passing yards without an interception.
Brunner?s 29 carries for 163 yards and Kerbs? 10 carries for 64 yards helped the Cougars control the pace of the game.
Centre misfired on a kick following a Kerbs touchdown catch early in the first quarter, and Goessel briefly took over the lead on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Neal Brubaker to Weston Hiebert. A pass from Brubaker to Cameron Stultz put GHS ahead 8-6, but the Cougars struck back with a 1-yard Trevor Troutt touchdown run before the teams traded ends.
The Centre defense cleaned up after a second missed PAT by recording a safety in the second quarter, but Goessel tied the game on an 8-yard run by John Berkholz and took a 16-14 lead on Stultz?s 2-point conversion.
But when Brunner threw to Kerbs for their second passing touchdown, the Cougars regained the lead, 22-16, heading to halftime. Brunner completed another touchdown pass early in the third quarter. Brubaker connected to Hiebert for a 71-yard score later in the third, but Centre did not allow a Bluebirds score in the fourth.
Kerbs clinched the road win with a 21-yard touchdown run.
Three Goessel passers totaled 233 passing yards but also threw two interceptions.
This week, the Cougars host Canton-Galva and Goessel visits White City.
