Holton, Schirmer cruise into Class 4A title game

By RICK PETERSON

The Capital-Journal

HOLTON --- The Holton Wildcats are headed back to the Class 4A championship game, thanks to a dominating performance Saturday afternoon in a 51-7 semfinal victory over previously-unbeaten Girard.

Holton, which lost to Hayden in last year's 4A final, will take on Concordia at 1 p.m. Saturday at Welch Stadium in Emporia.

Holton's semifinal victory was never in doubt after the 12-0 Wildcats scored on six of seven first-half possessions to build a huge 42-0 halftime lead.

"That's one of the better high school football teams in Class 4A that I think I've seen," said Girard coach Craig Crespino, whose team finished the year 11-1. "They're every bit as good as we thought they were."

Holton's wishbone offense churned out first-half scoring drives of 80 yards in six plays, 73 yards in nine plays, 80 yards in 11 plays, 85 yards in eight plays and 44 yards in three plays and also got a 74- yard punt return for a TD from junior Chris Ireland.

The Wildcats outgained Girard 166 yards to minus-4 in the first quarter and held a 367-24 advantage at halftime, not including Ireland's return. Holton finished the day with 499 yards, all on the ground, while Girard wound up with 193 yards, including 151 passing yards from junior quarterback Nate Murdock.

Holton junior standout Matt Schirmer paced the Wildcats with 186 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries, all in the first half. Senior Aaron Meister added 168 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.

"I thought our kids practiced well this week and they prepared," Holton coach Brooks Barta said. "We didn't know what they (the Trojans) were going to do defensively, and they threw some different things at us, but the kids adjusted and really picked everything up.

"We got a hat on a hat, and our backs ran hard."

Holton also dominated the game defensively, with the Trojans forced to go to the air after falling behind early. Girard's only points came on a 64-yard touchdown pass from Murdock to senior Nate Evans with 3:44 remaining.

"I thought we were very physical up front," Barta said. "We took the run away from them early, and that really helps our secondary play the pass and they did a nice job."

Holton will now try to cap its perfect year with the school's first football championship.

"We're just going to try to get better this week," Barta said. "We're going to have a heck of a team to play in Concordia (a 16-14 winner over Wellington Friday). They have a really balanced offense and, everybody tells me, a tremendous defense."

Girard (11-1) 0 0 0 0 --- 7Holton (12-0) 14 28 6 3 --- 51 Holton --- Schirmer 14 run (Frahm kick)

Holton --- Schirmer 21 run (Frahm kick)

Holton --- Meister 2 run (Frahm kick)

Holton --- Morris 1 run (Frahm kick)

Holton --- Schirmer 4 run (Frahm kick)

Holton --- Ireland 74 punt return (Frahm kick)

Holton --- Keen 2 run (kick failed)

Holton --- Frahm 25 FG

Girard --- Evans 64 pass from Murdock (Murdock kick)

GAME IN FIGURES

Girard HoltonFirst downs 8 24Rushes-yards 35-42 64-499Passing yards 151 0Return yards 0 77Passes 7-17-3 0-2-0Punts 5-47.8 2- 37.0Fumbles-lost 2-0 4-0Penalties-yards 2-6 3-35INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING --- Girard: Fowler 18-44, Sponsel 1-6, Evans 8-1, Callanan 1-minus-3, Murdock 7-minus-6. Holton: Schirmer 15-186, Meister 14- 168, Morris 13-57, McClintock 6-20, Dolezilek 3-32, King 4-19, Keen 3- 13, Hinman 1-8, Ireland 1-3, Ford 1-1, Huyett 1-minus-2, Rinkes 1- minus-2, Bontrager 1-minus-4.

PASSING --- Girard: Murdock 7-16-3, 151 yards; Evans 0-1-0, 0. Holton: McClintock 0-1-0, 0; Huyett 0-1-0, 0.

RECEIVING --- Girard: Evans 3-100, Lehman 2-39, Coomes 1-14, Callanan 1-minus-2.

PUNTING --- Girard: Murdock 5-47.8. Holton: Bagley 2-37.0.

Copyright 1999
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.