Football Finals: Div. 6

Ford Filed- Monroe St. Mary’s Catholic Central came out firing away against defending champ Montague.  The Falcons rushed for 60 yards on their first three plays from scrimmage to set up a 1^st-and-goal from the four.  Jack Cusumano capped the drive for a 7-0 lead. 

But it was Montague who enter the half with a 14-7 lead thanks to Cody Kater who looked just as good running the ball as he did throwing.   A Kater 12 yard pass on the run to Anthony Guerra set up a 1^st-and-goal from the two yard line that allowed Montague to tie the game.  With 2:40 left in the first half Montague took the lead on a 7 yard reception from Kater to Anthony Root.

St. Mary’s made a dog fight out of it in the second half when quarterback Mike Howey ran it in from 5 yards out to tie the game at 14-14.  Howey regained the lead for his Falcons on a 42 yard bootleg to go up 21-17 with 8:14 to play in the game. 

But like a true champion would, Montague answered the challenge!

First Kater hit Matt DeJong on a bubble screen that picked up 45 yards.  A minute later, with 5:58 on the clock, Kater raced in from 10 yards out for a 24-21 lead and the game winning score.

St. Mary’s had plenty of time to move the ball down field but St. Mary’s offense is based on the run and run only!  This handicapped them and allowed Montague’s defense to make a stand.  Kater then ended the game and his Montague career by taking a knee.

All year long Kater has sat in the shadow of Devin Gardner, Rob Bolden, and Joe Boisture.  Those three are all great quarterbacks, but it is Kater who walks away with two state titles.  Kater completed 18 of 26 passes for 251 yards and a TD, he also ran 17 times for 128 yards and a TD.  Kater should find success in college as his skills seem to fit in with exactly what Central Michigan loves to do.  Dan LeFevour wasn’t a highly touted quarterback but look at the career he has put together in Mt. Pleasant.