BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
DETROIT — Shutting down a high-powered offensive machine can be like solving a Rubix Cube. It can take plenty of patience and determination for a likable end result.
Muskegon Catholic Central solved such a riddle that no prep football team has been able to accomplish this season until Friday: shut down high-octane Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes.
The Associated Press top-ranked Crusaders pulled off the unlikeliest result Friday at Ford Field by topping No. 3 Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes in the Division 8 state finals, 7-0.
It marked Muskegon Catholic Central’s third straight state title, fourth in eight years and ninth in school history.
“I don’t think anyone that has followed these two teams this year would have predicted that it would end 7-0,” said third-year Muskegon Catholic Central coach Steve Czerwon. “What a battle. It took a lot of grit and determination. We found a way to win. We shut down one of the top offenses in the state.”
The Crusaders (12-2) held its previous 13 opponents to 195 total points and 15.0 points against leading into the finals. Lakes (13-1) came in scoring 506 total points with an average of 38.9 points an outing.
In a defensive battle, it took a fourth-quarter touchdown and the ability to force four turnovers to guide Muskegon Catholic Central to a rare third straight crown. The Crusaders, who lost in Week 1 and Week 8 during the regular season, have now won 15 straight in the postseason.
Christian Martinez scored the game’s sole touchdown with 10:20 left to play in the fourth quarter, rushing around left for an 8-yard score. Jose Zambrano’s extra point capped the scoring.
Walker Christoffersen had two interceptions in the contest, while Martinez and LaTommy Scott also had picks for the Crusaders.
The Crusaders’ fourth interception turned out to be a difference maker.
On second and eight from the Catholic Central 13, Christoffersen stepped in front of his receiver and picked off Our Lady of the Lakes’ Clay Senerius in the end zone with 3:21 remaining in the contest. The Crusaders recorded an interception at their own 36 the previous drive.
Muskegon CC chewed up the remaining clock down the stretch to seal the deal.
“We found a way to pull this one out. We dropped back four (defensive backs) because they are a great passing team and they’ve had great success going over the top,” said Czerwon. “It wasn’t easy. In a close game like this everything you do matters.”
Jacob Holt had 6.5 tackles, while Nathan Jones and Andrew Schulte added six tackles apiece for Muskegon Catholic Central, which recorded its first shutout of the season. The Crusaders limited two other opponents to seven points.
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes (13-1) moved the ball inside the Catholic Central 30-yard-line three times in the first half. Clay Senerius was picked off at the MCC 15, Devin Senerius missed a 35-yard field goal wide left and the Lakers also turned the ball over on downs at the Crusaders’ 16 with 55 ticks left in the first half.
Senerius, Lakes’ all-time leading passer, finished 17-for-27 passing for 193 yards, but was intercepted four times and kept off the scoreboard for the first time in nearly three seasons.
Previously, the fewest points that Our Lady put on the board this season was 32 in there regional finals against Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary. WOLL scored over 50 points twice this season and over 40 points on six occasions.
Chris Cartier was limited to just 39 rushing yards on 10 carries.
Ryan Kostich and Isaac Oliver had seven tackles apiece for WOLL. Devin Senerius had six catches for 72 yards and Cartier four grabs for 62 yards. Lakes was held to 48 positive rushing yards and under 200 passing yards, both season lows.
“I’m still proud of my kids for the season they had this year,” said third-year WOLL coach Josh Sawicki. “We recorded the most wins in school history, scored the most point in school history and we got to the state finals for the first time in years. We just came up a little short. In a game this close, there were a couple of plays that made the difference and unfortunately it didn’t go our way.
“We played a great defensive game. It was just a matter of us not executing (offensively) in the red zone,” continued Sawicki. “Again, one or two plays is the difference in a game like this. (Muskegon Catholic Central) made some great defensive plays in the red zone and that was the difference.”
Christoffersen finished with 122 yards on 18 carries for Muskegon Catholic Central, which amassed 224 yards on the ground and only 17 in the air.
The Crusaders missed a 39-yard field goal in the first half and punted the ball away five times before scoring on their second-to-last drive. Muskegon CC did not commit a turnover.
“We made some mistakes, but not turning it over and giving them great field position was crucial,” noted Czerwon. “We didn’t want to give that team great field position with the offense they had.”
A.P. ALL-STATE FOOTBALL DIVISION 1-2: http://northoaklandsports.com/2015/11/28/football-associated-press-all-state-football-division-1-2/
A.P. ALL-STATE FOOTBALL DIVISION 3-4: http://northoaklandsports.com/2015/11/28/football-associated-press-all-state-football-division-3-4/
A.P. ALL-STATE FOOTBALL DIVISION 5-6: http://northoaklandsports.com/2015/11/28/football-associated-press-all-state-football-division-5-6/
A.P. ALL-STATE FOOTBALL DIVISION 7-8: http://northoaklandsports.com/2015/11/28/football-associated-press-all-state-football-division-7-8/