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Pilots defeat C.C.; a win away from playoff spot
Novi – One team’s season will continue into playoffs and another’s will end as a result of the final game in the 2014 Catholic League Central Division.
Warren De La Salle stymied Detroit Catholic Central’s offense and its defense created opportunities for the offense as the Pilots rolled over the Shamrocks 31-8 in the 70th annual Boys Bowl game on Sunday at C.C.
De La Salle’s victory ended a five-game losing streak to C.C.
De La Salle is 5-3 and needs to win its final regular season game to clinch a spot in the playoffs. Should De La Salle lose on Saturday the Pilots could well qualify as an additional qualifier.
But that’s likely a moot point. De La Salle will face Detroit Pershing (4-4) in a non-league game at C.C. at 10:30 a.m. Pershing is an early five-touchdown underdog in that game.
C.C. is 3-5 and will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2006. C.C. made the Division 1 finals four of the last five years.
De La Salle took a 3-0 lead on Jake Townsley’s 28-yard field goal with 8:39 left in the first quarter.
After the teams exchanged punts Eric Rogers intercepted for De La Salle and the Pilots took over on C.C.’s 12-yard line. Two plays later Allen Stritzinger’s 4-yard touchdown run gave De La Salle a 10-0 lead.
The Shamrocks had a chance to make it a one-score game before halftime thanks to a 34-yard pass from Joe Fanning to Alex Bock. But Cooper Gammon blocked a 25-yard field goal attempt on the last play of the half to keep C.C. off the scoreboard.
Josh Wilk’s interception on the second play of the second half set up quarterback Joey Garbarino’s 1-yard touchdown run and De La Salle led 17-0.
On De La Salle’s next series Garbarino (8-11 passing, 91 yards) completed a 37-yard pass to Myles Charley and four plays later Stritzinger scored on a 5-yard touchdown run.
Stritzinger rushed for 137 yards on 18 carries and his 71-yard touchdown run gave the Pilots a 31-0 lead with 1:47 remaining.
C.C. avoided a shutout when Fanning (11-17, 171 yards) completed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Nick Cococcetta with 20 seconds left.
C.C. finishes its season at home on Saturday against Detroit Osborn at 1 p.m.
