Irish vs Webb “Battle of the Bluff” Pre-game summary presented by “The General”
VS. 
CATHOLIC Irish (7-1)
at
WEBB Spartans (6-2)
October 24, 2013
7 p.m.
Faust Field
SETTING THE SCENE – Catholic plays its final regular-season non-district road game of the season…tonight’s “Battle of the Bluff” is also the State Farm Rivalry Thursday television game…Irish qualified for the Class 4A playoffs with last week’s 35-2 win over Scott…Irish are ranked eighth in this week’s AP Class 4A poll… Irish have won 97 of their last 127 games…Catholic offense has gained 1,187 yards in past three games…Jancek has 1,218 yards passing and 11 touchdowns… Martinez is a top target…Brown leads Irish rushing attack…Brown had 165 yards rushing and three touchdowns in last week’s win…Catholic defense allowing less than 230 yards in total offense per-game…Hamilton leads team in tackles…Hamilton has 14 sacks on the season…Catholic has five interception returns for touchdowns this year…Martinez has four picks…Catholic is +12 in turnover margin…
THE RECORDS – Catholic is 7-1 in 2013, including a 3-0 mark in District 4AA. The Irish won at home over Scott last week, 35-2. Webb is 6-2 overall this season and 4-0 in Division II East/Middle. The Spartans won last week at home over Ezell-Harding, 49-7.
ON THE SIDELINE – Steve Matthews is in his first year at the helm of the Irish. He also serves as Catholic’s offensive coordinator. Matthews comes to Catholic from Siegel High School in Murfreesboro, where he served as offensive coordinator from 2010-2012. He was head coach at Moore County in 2008 and 2009 and posted a 10-10 record. He also served as QB/WR coach at Tullahoma, his high school alma mater, from 2004-2007. Matthews played collegiately at Tennessee and Memphis. His record at Catholic is 7-1.
DISTRICT FOES – Catholic is in Class 4A. The Irish are in District 4AA, which includes (playoff bracket in parentheses): Alcoa (3A), CAK (3A), Kingston (3A), and Scott (4A).
ASSOCIATED PRESS CLASS 4A TOP 10 – Catholic is ranked eighth in this week’s Associated Press Class 4A Top 10. Fulton is ranked first with 178 overall points and 16 first-place votes. The remainder of the Top 10 includes: 2. Greeneville (2/163); 3. Sullivan South (137); 4. Elizabethton (110); 5. Dyersburg (97); 6. Pearl-Cohn (79); 7. Carter (74); 8. Catholic (61); 9. Giles County (44); 10. Signal Mountain (33).
ASSOCIATED PRESS DIVISION II POLL – Webb is ranked seventh in this week’s Associated Press Division II poll. Ensworth is ranked first with 16 first-place votes and 160 overall. The remainder of the Top 10 includes: 2. MBA (142); t3. ECS (106); t3. Brentwood Academy (106); 5. MUS (103); 6. Baylor (81); 7. Webb (66); 8. Father Ryan (63); 9. DCA (20); 10. Friendship Christian (16).
PICK SIX – Catholic’s defense has 17 interceptions this season and five have been returned for touchdowns. Will Martinez had a 33-yard return for six in Catholic’s 22-13 win over Notre Dame. Dominic Souder (27 yds.) and Augie Fortune (32 yds.) scored in Catholic’s 47-7 win at Coalfield. Chase Kuerschen had a 71-yard return for a score in Catholic’s 17-14 win over CAK. Harrison Huber had a 46-yard return for a score in last week’s 35-2 win over Scott.
TURNOVER MARGIN – Catholic is plus-12 in turnover margin this season. The Irish have lost seven fumbles and thrown five interceptions. Opponents have lost seven fumbles and thrown 17 interceptions.
RACK ’EM UP — Catholic has won 85 of its last 108 regular season games.
DISTRICT 4AA STANDINGS – Here’s a look at the 2013 District 4AA standings:
DISTRICT OVERALL
Catholic 3-0 7-1
Alcoa 3-0 7-1
CAK 1-2 2-6
Scott 1-3 6-3
Kingston 0-3 0-8
Last week’s results
Catholic 35, Scott 2
Alcoa 51, CAK 17
Sequoyah 47, Kingston 0
Thursday’s game
Catholic @ Webb
Friday’s games
Maplewood @ Alcoa
Sweetwater @ Kingston
Livingston Academy @ CAK
COMMON OPPONENTS – Catholic and Webb have faced one common opponent this season — CAK. Here’s how each fared:
Opponent Catholic Webb
CAK W, 17-14 (OT) W, 49-7
WEEK EIGHT – Catholic improved to 7-1 overall and 3-0 in District 4AA with its 35-2 win over Scott. The win made Catholic playoff eligible, as it will finish no worse than second in District 4AA. Elijah Brown provided the offensive firepower for the Irish, rushing nine times for 165 yards and three touchdowns. Brown got the scoring underway just 56 seconds into the contest as he went in from 26 yards. Harrison Huber gave the Irish a 14-0 first-quarter lead with his 46-yard interception return. It was the fifth interception return for a touchdown this season for the Irish. Scott scored its only points of the night on a safety on the final play of the first quarter. Brown rambled 50 yards to paydirt midway through the second quarter, then traveled 51 yards for a score on Catholic’s next possession. Zac Jancek provided the final points with his 18-yard run late in the first half. Catholic had 331 yards in total offense, while limiting the Highlanders to just 138 yards. Erik Perfetto and Corey Ostrowski each had seven tackles to pace the Irish defense. In addition to Huber’s interception return for a touchdown, Eric White and Alec Connolly also had picks for Catholic.
TEAM STATS — Catholic averages 321.0 yards per-game in total offense, including 168.8 yards on the ground and 152.3 yards through the air. Defensively, Catholic allows 229.6 yards per-game, including 136.6 yards on the ground and 93.0 yards through the air. Catholic averages 31.4 points per-game. Opponents average 15.5 points per-game.
OFFENSIVE OUTPUT – Catholic’s offense has accumulated 49 first downs and 1,187 yards in total offense over the past three games. The Irish had a season-high 430 yards in their 51-7 win over Kingston.
ALL-PURPOSE MAN – Will Martinez has 467 all-purpose yards this season. The breakdown includes 220 receiving yards, 122 punt return yards, 119 kickoff return yards, and six rushing yards.
INDIVUDUAL LEADERS – Here’s a look at Catholic’s statistical leaders in various categories:
Rushing: Elijah Brown (50 att., 398 yds, 6 TD)
Passing: Zac Jancek (85-151-5, 1,218 yds, 11 TD)
Receiving: Will Martinez (19 rec., 220 yds, 1 TD)
Interceptions: Will Martinez (4)
Scoring: Elijah Brown, Wyatt Price (48 points)
Tackles: David Hamilton (74.5)
DOUBLE-DIGIT TACKLES – Here’s a look at Catholic’s double-digit tackle efforts in 2013:
Player Opponent Tackles
David Hamilton Tyner 18.5
David Hamilton Coalfield 13
Josh Silvey Tyner 12
Dawson Anderson Anderson Co. 12
Dominic Souder Anderson Co. 12
Eric White CAK 12
Josh Silvey Hardin Valley11.5
Austin Rowan Anderson Co. 11
David Hamilton Hardin Valley10
Erik Perfetto Hardin Valley10
BEHIND THE LINE – Catholic has 35.5 tackles-for-loss and 27 sacks this season, David Hamilton leads the Irish in both categories with 10.5 TFL’s and 14 sacks.
PREPXTRA PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Here is a list of players who have been nominated for PrepXtra Player of the Week this season:
Player Off./Def Opponent Stats
Will Martinez Defense Notre Dame 33-yd int ret for TD, 3 PBU
Dominic Souder Defense Coalfield 27-yd int ret for TD, 2 PBU (winner)
David Hamilton Defense CAK 8.5 tackles, 3.5 sacks
THE LAST GO ‘ROUND – Catholic’s 2013 roster includes 23 seniors. Included are Nick Lentz (QB/DB), Eric White (WR/LB), Elijah Brown (WR/DB), Jerome Rehmann (RB/DB), Harrison Huber (WR/DB), John Mark Broussard (RB/LB), Derek Connolly (WR/DB), Mike Devrnja (WR/DB), Morgan West (TE/DB), Erik Perfetto (RB/LB), Will Martinez (WR/DB), Michael Ernst (RB/LB), Wyatt Price (K), David Hamilton (WR/LB), Nicholas Natour (OL/DL), Joe Willenborg (OL/LB), Dwight Jessie (OL/DL), Evan Nelson (OL/DL), Corey Patton (OL/LB), Sean Nicholson (OL/DL), Matt Carroll (OL/DL), Patrick McFall (OL/DL), and Logan Irwin (OL/DL).
ON THE RADIO – Tonight’s game is being broadcast on WNML, The Sports Animal (99.1-FM). John Wilkerson handles play-by-play, while former Tennessee Vol David Ligon adds commentary.
ON TV – Tonight’s game is the State Farm Rivalry Thursday contest and is being broadcast on MyVLT-TV. Mark Packer calls the action, with former Bearden quarterback Dawson Halliday adding color. Austin Price provides sideline commentary.
UP NEXT – Catholic concludes its regular season next week with a District 4AA contest at Alcoa. The winner will be District 4AA champions, while the loser will finish second. Both teams have qualified for the playoffs — Alcoa in Class 3A and Catholic in Class 4A. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., at Goddard Field. The Irish will begin Class 4A playoff competition in two weeks.
