Norfolk Catholic big plays sink Boone Central/NG 48-35

Boone Central/NG (Red) is about to score on Norfolk Catholic with a Dylan Gentrup to Will Frey scoring strike. *(photo by Bobby Mills)

The fireworks in the sky during the rain delay in Albion paled in comparison to what transpired on the football field after play resumed.

With 1:13 left in the third quarter, Norfolk Catholic owned a 27-14 lead. Then the rains came. 41 combined points seemed about right at that time, but after the weather delay, Class C-1 No. 2 Norfolk Catholic and No. 10 Boone Central/NG made the light show during the stoppage look like sunny, lazy summer day by the lake.

The two C-1 powers combined for 42 points in just 16 minutes, 13 seconds and when all the smoke cleared Norfolk Catholic came away with the 48-35 win, thanks to three Dylan Kautz touchdown runs and a timely fumble return for a score by Kelby Schaefer.

But Kautz and Schaefer’s antics seemed like child’s play compared to the showtime-like performance put on by Boone Central/NG all-star, Dylan Gentrup in the losing effort.

The senior magician, who ran and passed for over 1000 yards a year ago, despite an inexperienced cast surrounding him, ended the night with an unreal 422 yards of total offense.

The 6-1, 190 pound master of trickery completed 19 of 35 passes for 281 yards and 4 TDs and ran the ball 20 times for 141 yards and another score, keeping the Cardinals in the game until that back breaking play by the Knights with 7:26 left in the contest.

Catholic shocked the 2-1 Cardinals early when fleet footed FB Kelby Schaefer broke a quick dive play 66 yards for a touchdown without a hand laid on him.

Gentrup answered right back with a 12 yard TD run. That would be the last time the Cardinals would stay even with Norfolk Catholic. The Knights always had an answer for a Boone Central score, but the home field Cardinals seemed to hang around, waiting for a opportunity to pounce on an error by Jeff Bellar’s forces.

A Dylan Kautz 54 yard TD sprint gave Catholic a 24-14 halftime lead but both defenses clamped down in the 3rd quarter with the only scoring coming on a Knight’s 30 yard FG by Riley Carlson with 2:52 left in the 3rd quarter.

Then the rains came. After a mandatory 30 minute weather delay and then some, the real fireworks started.

Illinois transfer Evan Smith immediately got things rolling with a 31 yard TD blast right up the gut, giving the Knights a 34-14 advantage. Boone came right back with a 40 yard scoring connection between Dylan Gentrup and Cody Nelson, who ended the night with 9 catches for 182 yards. 34-21 Norfolk Catholic

It took less than a minute for 2 time state sprint champion Dylan Kautz to break a 51 yard scoring dazzler. Now it was Norfolk Catholic 41-21 over Boone Central/NG, 7:57 left in the wild contest.

The absolute shot in the foot for Boone came on the ensuing series. After a high snap from center, not the first one of the night over Gentrup’s head, the talented QB picked up the loose ball, scrambled for his life, then launched a howitzer bullet downfield, on the run, hit a streaking Cody Nelson, who was finally downed on the Catholic 4 yard line.

Convert this scoring opportunity and the Cardinals are within two scores with over 7 minutes on the clock. Instead, the center snap sails over Gentrup’s head, he tries to field the errant center snap, is clocked by a Norfolk Catholic defender and johnny-on-the-spot Kelby Schaefer is there to scoop up the football and streak 80 yards the other way for a touchdown.

It’s the Knights 48-21 and the deficit is just too much for the Cardinals to overcome, despite 7:26 left on the scoreboard clock.

Boone Central/NG would add two more TDs on Gentrup passes to Dotzler and Will Frey respectively, but it was too little, too late.

Dylan Kautz led all rushers with 235 yards on 26 carries. Kelby Schaefer added 66 yards on just 3 totes, while Evan Smith chipped in 65 yards on 11 touches for the Knights.

Boone’s hard running Levi Krueger added 66 yards on 17 carries to go with Gentrup’s 141 ground yards. Jesse Sullivan was a force on that Cardinals defense with 11 tackles. Tough Michael Murcek was in on 9 stops.

……………………….1…...2…...3…...4……....F

Norfolk Catholic…....7…...17….3…...21……..48

Boone Central/NG….7…….7….0…...21……..35

1st Qtr.

NC - Kelby Schaefer 66 Run……………………..PAT - Riley Carlson kick - 0-7

BC - Dylan Gentrup 12 run……………………...PAT - Will Fry kick……....7-7

2nd Qtr.

NC - Dylan Kautz 3 run………………………….PAT - Carlson kick………..7-14

NC - Payton Love 38 Field Goal………………………………………………7-17

BC - Ethan Dozler 13 pass from Gentrup………..PAT - Frey kick………….14-17

NC - Kautz 54 run………………………………..PAT - Carlson…………....14-24

3rd Qtr.

NC - Love 30 Field Goal……………………………………………………...14-27

4th Qtr.

NC - Evan Smith 31 run………………………….PAT - Carlson kick……....14-34

BC - Cody Nelson 31 pass from Gentrup………...PAT - Frey kick………….21-34

NC - Kautz 51 run………………………………...PAT - Carlson kick……....21-41

NC - Schaefer 80 fumble return…………………..PAT - Carlson kick……....21-48

BC - Dozler 9 yard pass from Gentrup…………...PAT - Frey kick………….28-48

BC - Will Frey 17 pass from Gentrup………….....PAT - Frey kick………….35-48