I’ve heard the Central Catholic Vikings described many ways this year. “Like a cinder block on your chest…” “They just squeeze the life out of teams.” or “They just overwhelm you to death.” Until you see them in person, it’s hard to imagine what you’ll see. Me? I’d call them the biggest, fattest rattlesnake I ever saw as the Vikings just seemed to toy with their prey, striking, then squeezing, then letting loose enough to make another big strike. Over and over until eventually they tire of the game and just deliver the finishing blow.
ThenVikings held Cumberland Valley to just 80 yards of offense while piling up over 400 of their own en route to a 24-7 win to earn the right to face Parkland for the PIAA 4A title at Hersheypark Stadium next Saturday at 6p.m.
Central Catholic took it’s first strike quickly. After forcing the Eagles to punt on their first possession, Gunnar Frerotte took a Troy Fisher pass 45 yards to the 27 yard line. Ronnie Jones ran the next play to the two and Fisher punched it in from the one. The kick was good and just like that Central led 7-0. “They’re big and fast up front. The numbers on the sheet don’t lie,” said Eagle Coach Mike Whitehead.
Cumberland Valley took the ball at their 21. As would be the case all day, they drove 50 yards, but it took 12 plays and three offside penalties to keep the drive moving as the Central defense seemed to toy with the Eagles.
The drive ended at the Viking 30. Cumberland Valley’s defense appeared to give its team some momentum, stopping the Vikings in three plays. Once again the PCC defense, led by Jr. David Adams with 14 tackles and two sacks squeezed. The offense struck again, this time getting a 27-yard field goal from Jacob Rocchi making it a 10-0 lead with 7:26 left in the half.
“They’re huge, definitely a lot bigger than I expected,” Ferguson said. “A lot of credit to them, they knew what to do against us and we did everything we could, but they were the better team today.” The Viking defense just kept the pressure on, delivering another of their team total five sacks.
Ronnie Jones turned up the dial, running for 28 yards his next carry. JJ Younger carried a couple times and George, who finished with 154 yards on 16 carries, finished the drive with a five-yard strike. “He was a nice change of pace for us. JJ is starting to come into his own as a runner,” said Totten of the running game.
Bricen Garner delivered the next strike, leaping high and snagging a long first down pass from Cumberland QB Josh Ferguson at the PCC 15 for the first of two interceptions in the game just before halftime.
The Vikings started the second half in good field position at the 44 of Cumberland Valley, but a penalty ended that drive, forcing a punt that pinned the Eagles deep at their own 12.
Another sack from Adams forced a punt that was fumbled and the Eagles recovered the ball. Once again the nine D1 recruits PCC carries on defense squeezed and sacked Ferguson twice. Fisher, who had a nice game himself with 190 yards on eight completions, led his team back to the end zone. Younger carried the ball for 24,11,13 and the final six yards to put the game away 24-0 at the fourth quarter mark.
The next Eagle drive was a grinding, 14-play drive that seemed to go on for miles. In reality, the snake was still squeezing and toying with it’s prey. After allowing the Eagles to get to mid field, Garner lept about eight feet into the air for his second interception.
“You saw some of those plays that they were making…like those interceptions. You don’t see that every week,” Whitehead said. “(Garner), that was incredible. As soon as he intercepted it, I said, ‘that’s a Division I (recruit).’ Hats off to them — they’re a really good team and obviously the better team today.”
Cumberland Valley managed to get the season’s last touchdown on a one-yard sneak by Ferguson.
