PLAINFIELD -
There's no doubt that Rick Streiff has be on guard against a let down, but its understandable if his players might have a case of the looking aheads.
Cathedral over the past few seasons came into Friday night's game with three straight sectional championships, and in the first three games of the playoffs were rarely contested since they last failed to get out in 2005.
Against Plainfield, an early turnover and touchdown by the Quakers was proof that anyone in the playoffs can have their time to shine. It was the next 45 minutes that showed why Sectional 6, for the immediate future, will be the Irish's to lose.
Read: Cathedral Enjoys Successful 2009 Season
Three consecutive touchdowns after Plainfield's first quarter turned the potential upset into a blowout, as Cathedral won 48-21 for their fourth consecutive sectional championship, which follows a recent trend for the team whose the defending Class 4A champions.
Since a 16-12 loss to Roncalli in the 2005 sectional championship, Cathedral has 12 straight sectional games by double digits. The Rebels came the closest to making it a game in 2008, but the Irish still got out with the 21-8 victory in the first round of sectionals. This season followed the same plan, as Cathedral beat Lebanon 47-15 in the opening game, and then Mooresville 24-9 at North Central in the semifinal.
Plainfield, who knocked off Northwest and Roncalli in the first round, seemed up to the challenge in the opening minutes, when the Quaker defense stripped Cathedral quarterback Kofi Hughes of the ball. The turnover put Plainfield deep in Irish territory, and after a penalty capitalized when Elliott Hughes scored on a five yard sweep to make it 7-0.
See: Plainfield in IndySportsNation.com Feature Game of the Week
Hughes of Cathedral struck back quickly, driving the team down the field and then tossing an 8-yard touchdown pass to Michael Bender to get the Irish their first points, though a missed extra point kept Plainfield in the lead. Following an defensive stop, Cathedral struck again, as Hughes faked a pass then took off down the sideline, juked a defender, and trotted in for the go ahead score.
After that, Cathedral never trailed, thank a lot to Hughes, who rushed for 166 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns while also throwing for 134 yards and two scores to help the Irish advance to a regional to face New Palestine next week.
The Quakers-who finished third in the Mid-State conference this season-end with a finally record of 8-4, which equals their mark in 2008
Cathedral over the past few seasons came into Friday night's game with three straight sectional championships, and in the first three games of the playoffs were rarely contested since they last failed to get out in 2005.
Against Plainfield, an early turnover and touchdown by the Quakers was proof that anyone in the playoffs can have their time to shine. It was the next 45 minutes that showed why Sectional 6, for the immediate future, will be the Irish's to lose.
Read: Cathedral Enjoys Successful 2009 Season
Three consecutive touchdowns after Plainfield's first quarter turned the potential upset into a blowout, as Cathedral won 48-21 for their fourth consecutive sectional championship, which follows a recent trend for the team whose the defending Class 4A champions.
Since a 16-12 loss to Roncalli in the 2005 sectional championship, Cathedral has 12 straight sectional games by double digits. The Rebels came the closest to making it a game in 2008, but the Irish still got out with the 21-8 victory in the first round of sectionals. This season followed the same plan, as Cathedral beat Lebanon 47-15 in the opening game, and then Mooresville 24-9 at North Central in the semifinal.
Plainfield, who knocked off Northwest and Roncalli in the first round, seemed up to the challenge in the opening minutes, when the Quaker defense stripped Cathedral quarterback Kofi Hughes of the ball. The turnover put Plainfield deep in Irish territory, and after a penalty capitalized when Elliott Hughes scored on a five yard sweep to make it 7-0.
See: Plainfield in IndySportsNation.com Feature Game of the Week
Hughes of Cathedral struck back quickly, driving the team down the field and then tossing an 8-yard touchdown pass to Michael Bender to get the Irish their first points, though a missed extra point kept Plainfield in the lead. Following an defensive stop, Cathedral struck again, as Hughes faked a pass then took off down the sideline, juked a defender, and trotted in for the go ahead score.
After that, Cathedral never trailed, thank a lot to Hughes, who rushed for 166 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns while also throwing for 134 yards and two scores to help the Irish advance to a regional to face New Palestine next week.
The Quakers-who finished third in the Mid-State conference this season-end with a finally record of 8-4, which equals their mark in 2008
