The sixth-ranked Gehlen Catholic football team ended their season in the second round of the Class A playoffs with a tight 21-19 loss at home to No. 10 Woodbury Central.
The Jay defense stepped up to the plate early in the night facing two Woodbury Central drives that got all the way to the red zone. Gehlen never backed down and turned both drives away on downs. Head coach Jeremy Schindler says the guys were motivated to keep the score at zero.
Gehlen led the game 6-0 after the first two drives, but Woodbury Central was going to capitalize eventually. The Wildcats scored on their next two drives while Gehlen Catholic went three and out and turned it over on downs on four plays. Coach Schindler says a couple of injuries to the offensive line hindered the Jays play-calling capabilities.
The Wildcats led by as much as 21-6 in the early part of the third quarter, but Gehlen Catholic was not going to go away. The Jays scored with a Cole McCarty touchdown pass late in the third and trailed 21-12 after a missed two-point try. After some more defensive stops, the Jays got the ball back with three minutes left and ended it in the end zone. Coach Schindler says Cole McCarty made some great plays to keep the Jays in it.
Woodbury Central would recover the onside kick and pick up a first down to seal the win and end Gehlen Catholic’s season. The Jays end the season with a record of 8-2 and as champions of their district. Coach Schindler says there are mixed emotions with the players graduating and the players coming back.
Woodbury Central advances with a record of 8-2 and will face West Hancock in Britt in a rematch of the Class A state championship last year.
