MERIDIAN - An injury to a senior standout turned into a junior show for the Cato-Meridian football team.
Michelle Prego-Milewski / The Citizen
Port Byron's Mike Bernardoni, 64, tries to catch Cato-Meridian's Ethan Holt, 23, as he runs for a touchdown in the second quarter of Friday night's game. The Blue Devils won, 35-6.
Port Byron's Mike Bernardoni, 64, tries to catch Cato-Meridian's Ethan Holt, 23, as he runs for a touchdown in the second quarter of Friday night's game. The Blue Devils won, 35-6.
After Donny Rodriquez was injured his knee in the second quarter, fellow back Ethan Holt, quarterback Preston Dennison and receiver Dillon Caswell took over as the Blue Devils defeated rival Port Byron 35-6 at homecoming.
“We needed them tonight,” said Cato-Meridian coach CJ Hannon of the juniors. “We were missing (receiver) Andrew Gillis too, and the kids we needed to step up stepped up.”
Holt had two touchdowns to go with over 120 rushing yards, while Dennison and Caswell hooked up for two 11-yard scores. The Blue Devils also took advantage of Panther mistakes, including two costly personal fouls and turnovers.
Down a mere 13-6, Port Byron was whistled for a personal foul with just 20 seconds remaining in the first half. The flag gave Cato-Meridian a first down on the Port Byron 20. Dennison (88 yards passing) found A.J. Rothenburg in the far corner of the end zone to give the Blue Devils a 21-6 halftime lead.
“We just got out-played,” said Port Byron coach Chris Kudla. “The touchdown put us in a hole and we were struggling on offense.”
The Panthers scored their lone touchdown late in the first quarter, when Cody Dudley brought down a deflected Brian Locastro pass.
Dudley paced the Panthers with 42 yards rushing, while Chris Snyder added 40. Locastro passed for 62 yards, while Tyler Quanbeck pitched in with 10 tackles Dudley and Ryan Eldridge added eight and CJ Kudla and Robert Yeomans had seven. Cato-Meridian (3-3) plays Hannibal next weekend, while Port Byron (2-4) travels to Bishop Ludden.
“We needed them tonight,” said Cato-Meridian coach CJ Hannon of the juniors. “We were missing (receiver) Andrew Gillis too, and the kids we needed to step up stepped up.”
Holt had two touchdowns to go with over 120 rushing yards, while Dennison and Caswell hooked up for two 11-yard scores. The Blue Devils also took advantage of Panther mistakes, including two costly personal fouls and turnovers.
Down a mere 13-6, Port Byron was whistled for a personal foul with just 20 seconds remaining in the first half. The flag gave Cato-Meridian a first down on the Port Byron 20. Dennison (88 yards passing) found A.J. Rothenburg in the far corner of the end zone to give the Blue Devils a 21-6 halftime lead.
“We just got out-played,” said Port Byron coach Chris Kudla. “The touchdown put us in a hole and we were struggling on offense.”
The Panthers scored their lone touchdown late in the first quarter, when Cody Dudley brought down a deflected Brian Locastro pass.
Dudley paced the Panthers with 42 yards rushing, while Chris Snyder added 40. Locastro passed for 62 yards, while Tyler Quanbeck pitched in with 10 tackles Dudley and Ryan Eldridge added eight and CJ Kudla and Robert Yeomans had seven. Cato-Meridian (3-3) plays Hannibal next weekend, while Port Byron (2-4) travels to Bishop Ludden.
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