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September 17, 2018
By: John Raffel

Lansing Catholic defeats Ionia




Lansing Catholic has had a great 9-1 record against Ionia. But most of the games are dog fights. This game would be no different. Matt Girard is a speedy receiver with great hands and Blake Bookie is a good QB, when he is given time. But sometimes the defense is spotty.

The game opened like it might be an easy game. Ionia had a 3 and out. Catholic started at their 37 yard line and drove 25 yards in seven plays, but a 15 yard penalty put the Cougars on the 40 yard line. Kramer found Gillespie in stride on a post pattern and the score was 7-0 with six minutes left in the quarter.

The Bookie then found Gage Taylor on the sideline for a 34-yard catch, but two plays later he tried the same pattern and Connor Doyle intercepted it. The first play, Mitch Gruber shook off tackles and gained 35 yards. Three Kramer rushes later, he scored from 26-yards out.

Ionia wasted no time and Bookie completed a 35 yard pass and 27 yard TD pass to Girard to narrow the score to 13-7. The defenses finally adjusted and the ball was exchanged four times. The turning point of the game was started at the 5 minute mark in the second quarter.

Ionia had driven 36 yards in four plays to set up a first and ten at the Cougar 19 yard line. Bookie tried to lob a pass to a slanting receiver, when 6-4 Charlie Nylander jumped high in the air and caught the ball. Nine plays later (6 passes- and a 27-yard run by Kramer) Kramer found Nylander wide open in the middle of the field for a 29-yard score. (19-7)

The second half opened with a seven play drive that went 55 yards. Nylander went the last yard for a 27-7 lead. Ionia wasted no time and scored on the third play. It was a 78-yard TD pass to Girard to make the score 27-13. Girard would catch 8 passes for 189 yards (2 TDs and a EXP).

The Cougars then scored on two lighting drives that ended with two scores. An Nylander 1-yard TD and an interception by Kramer that was a 49-yard pick six, but was called back for offensive face mask. Two plays later; Kramer threw a screen pass to Gruber for a 13 yard TD.

The Bulldogs kept on fighting and thanks to a great kickoff return; they drove 45 yards and scored on a 14-yard pass to Gage Taylor (40-21). So in four minutes, both teams scored three TDs. Catholic then scored a TD on a short drive in the fourth quarter and the game was over.

Blake Bookie had 249 passing yards and 3 TDs, but he also had three interceptions and was sacked twice 

OFFENSE-.Josh Kramer had 113 yards rushing (2 TDs) and 8-12 173 yards (3 TDs) .He also had 7 tackles (one for a loss) and an interception that went for a TD, but was called back for offensive facemask (at the 2 yard line)

Charlie Nylander touched the ball 6 times and scored 4 times, a 29 yard TD reception; two 1-yard TDs and a 2-point conversion. He also had a QB sack, tackle for a loss and a pass interception.

DEFENSE-Sam Edwards had 12 tackles (two for a loss) and a pass deflection. Derek Farrar and 10 tackles. Kabbash Richards had 6 tackles, a QB sack, and four tackles for a loss.