09-06-2013, 09:54 PM
09-07-2013, 09:16 AM
Nathan Christmas passed for two touchdowns and Nick Payne ran for another, but the story of Christian Academy of Louisville's 19-0 win at North Oldham Friday night was the defense, which forced five turnovers and gave the Mustangs their first shutout loss since 2006.
"Wow," said a beaming CAL head coach Stefan LeFors afterward. "To pitch a shutout against a team like that, it's a credit to our coaching staff and our kids on that side of the ball. I don't know how many times they got down to the red zone, but they kept coming away with zero, and that's the result of our kids' will and determination and a great game plan by the coaching staff."
North Oldham head coach Billy Martin gave all the credit to the visiting defense as well.
"CAL did a great job," said Martin, whose team dropped to 1-2. "They had a great game plan. We just kept turning the ball over and getting penalties in key situations. Our defense played admirably but our offense didn't."
The teams played to a scoreless draw in the first quarter. Chad Lewellyn stopped North Oldham's opening drive with an interception that he returned 14 yards after a CAL penalty on the return. CAL then converted two fourth downs, the second a 24-yard run by punter Nate Smith, and drove down to the North Oldham 8-yard line. But Christmas was sacked by Austin Metcalfe for a 10-yard loss, and Nathan Bader's 35-yard field-goal attempt was blocked.
North Oldham's next possession ended after three plays when running back Quentin Shea fumbled after a 5-yard carry, and Jake Paulson recovered the ball at the North Oldham 28-yard line. This time CAL took advantage, but not until the second quarter had begun. Three plays in, Christmas hit Zac Passafiume from 10 yards out for a 6-0 lead, as the snap was bad on the extra point attempt.
The teams traded punts until CAL took over on its 39-yard line late in the half. Nick Payne's 15-yard run highlighted a 61-yard drive that culminated with Christmas's 15-yard touchdown pass to Chad Lewellyn with 35 seconds left. Nathan Bader's point after attempt was good and the Centurions led by 13 at the half.
"He's come a long, long way," said LeFors of Christmas, who completed 13 of 23 passes for 130 yards and rushed nine times for 19 more. "He was new to us last year and we threw him in the water quickly, and he had to learn to swim. There were a couple games there where he was barely treading, but he's got a lot of physical ability and talent. He throws the ball well and makes every throw we ask him to make. The light clicked on in camp and each game he's progressing. He made some huge throws in this game. I'm very proud of him."
CAL opened the second half with a drive that took 7:46 off the clock. More importantly it added six more points to the lead as Christmas hit Lewellyn five times for 68 yards and Payne pounded it in from the 3-yard line. The extra-point failed and that was the end of the scoring for the night.
"Three and oh, I tell you that's a great start for us," said LeFors. "Next week we go on the road to Thomas Nelson in the District and the games start to count, but this is a great start for us."
CAL leads the all-time series between the schools 5-3. North Oldham had scored 81 points in its first two games.
Christian Academy 0 13 6 0 - 19
North Oldham 0 0 0 0 - 0
CAL - Passafiume 10 pass from Christmas (kick failed); CAL - Lewellyn 15 pass from Christmas (Bader kick); CAL - Payne 3 run (conversion failed).
CAL NO
Total yards 291 210
First downs na na
Rushes-yds. 33-161 33-115
Comp-Att-Int 13-23-0 9-12-1
Passing yards 130 95
Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-2
Penalties-yds. 2-22 2-20
Punts-avg. 2-24.0 1-51
http://lms.usatodayhss.com/louisville/ar...ldham-19-0
"Wow," said a beaming CAL head coach Stefan LeFors afterward. "To pitch a shutout against a team like that, it's a credit to our coaching staff and our kids on that side of the ball. I don't know how many times they got down to the red zone, but they kept coming away with zero, and that's the result of our kids' will and determination and a great game plan by the coaching staff."
North Oldham head coach Billy Martin gave all the credit to the visiting defense as well.
"CAL did a great job," said Martin, whose team dropped to 1-2. "They had a great game plan. We just kept turning the ball over and getting penalties in key situations. Our defense played admirably but our offense didn't."
The teams played to a scoreless draw in the first quarter. Chad Lewellyn stopped North Oldham's opening drive with an interception that he returned 14 yards after a CAL penalty on the return. CAL then converted two fourth downs, the second a 24-yard run by punter Nate Smith, and drove down to the North Oldham 8-yard line. But Christmas was sacked by Austin Metcalfe for a 10-yard loss, and Nathan Bader's 35-yard field-goal attempt was blocked.
North Oldham's next possession ended after three plays when running back Quentin Shea fumbled after a 5-yard carry, and Jake Paulson recovered the ball at the North Oldham 28-yard line. This time CAL took advantage, but not until the second quarter had begun. Three plays in, Christmas hit Zac Passafiume from 10 yards out for a 6-0 lead, as the snap was bad on the extra point attempt.
The teams traded punts until CAL took over on its 39-yard line late in the half. Nick Payne's 15-yard run highlighted a 61-yard drive that culminated with Christmas's 15-yard touchdown pass to Chad Lewellyn with 35 seconds left. Nathan Bader's point after attempt was good and the Centurions led by 13 at the half.
"He's come a long, long way," said LeFors of Christmas, who completed 13 of 23 passes for 130 yards and rushed nine times for 19 more. "He was new to us last year and we threw him in the water quickly, and he had to learn to swim. There were a couple games there where he was barely treading, but he's got a lot of physical ability and talent. He throws the ball well and makes every throw we ask him to make. The light clicked on in camp and each game he's progressing. He made some huge throws in this game. I'm very proud of him."
CAL opened the second half with a drive that took 7:46 off the clock. More importantly it added six more points to the lead as Christmas hit Lewellyn five times for 68 yards and Payne pounded it in from the 3-yard line. The extra-point failed and that was the end of the scoring for the night.
"Three and oh, I tell you that's a great start for us," said LeFors. "Next week we go on the road to Thomas Nelson in the District and the games start to count, but this is a great start for us."
CAL leads the all-time series between the schools 5-3. North Oldham had scored 81 points in its first two games.
Christian Academy 0 13 6 0 - 19
North Oldham 0 0 0 0 - 0
CAL - Passafiume 10 pass from Christmas (kick failed); CAL - Lewellyn 15 pass from Christmas (Bader kick); CAL - Payne 3 run (conversion failed).
CAL NO
Total yards 291 210
First downs na na
Rushes-yds. 33-161 33-115
Comp-Att-Int 13-23-0 9-12-1
Passing yards 130 95
Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-2
Penalties-yds. 2-22 2-20
Punts-avg. 2-24.0 1-51
http://lms.usatodayhss.com/louisville/ar...ldham-19-0