Gehlen Catholic senior running back Kale Pearson ran his way into rarified air in Gehlen Catholic’s 49-20 win at Akron-Westfield on Friday night.
Pearson rushed for 310 yards and six touchdowns which are marks that only a few Jays have ever reached in the school’s long football history. Pearson had three of his touchdowns by half, but he was not satisfied. He says his drive allowed him to continue the push for more in the second half.
Gehlen Catholic head coach Jeremy Schindler says he was not surprised by Pearson’s performance. He says Pearson’s work ethic and focus every day allows him to be a great football player.
Pearson’s 310 yards were the third most by a Gehlen Catholic football player having been eclipsed twice by Trevor Bouma. Pearson says running for that long of a distance is tiring, but he knows that his teammates are working for him, so he must work for his teammates.
That work makes him such a tough back to bring down. Two of his touchdowns were on runs longer than 60 yards that featured many broken tackles. From his big runs to his short gains, Pearson’s runs bring the punishment to any defender that tries to bring him down. He says he is constantly reminding himself to keep fighting to stay upright on every run.
The contact he faces can sometimes lead to a second wind that helps him leave defenders in the dust. Coach Schindler says it is video-game-like to watch him get that extra life.
Pearson’s name is the one attached to the 310 yards and six touchdowns, but he knows he does not get those yards and scores without the whole team helping out. He says his teammates help make him successful, and they deserve the credit.
Coach Schindler says that humble team-first mentality is something that is very vital to a football team’s success.
The Jays were able to propel themselves to sole possession of first place in the district with the win and now sit 3-0 in the district standings. Coach Schindler says he has been pleased that no matter what the record, the Jays are always aware of and respectful of how good their opponent is that week.
Pearson says the guys understand where they are at now is because of their mentality the last few weeks. He says that the mentality does not change with their success, and that mentality is to just focus on one week at a time.
The Jays will host Sibley-Ocheyedan this week for their homecoming game. Kickoff is at 7:00 PM at Jim Lorenzen Field.
