CBHS Recap

In a renewal of the oldest high-school football rivalry in the state, Christian Brothers ended the Owls’ three-game winning streak in the series as they took the 28-14 home victory.
MUS took the opening kickoff and moved the ball early, converting three 3rd-and-short opportunities to get into CBHS territory. However, the Owls stalled at the Purple Wave 45-yard line, and Kyle Sneed was called in to punt.
The Owl defense initially stymied the CBHS ground game, forcing a quick punt to get the ball back at the Purple Wave 33-yard line with 4:11 left in the first quarter.
Unfortunately, facing 4th-and-4 from the 27-yard line, Brady Hughes’s pass to Kyle Sneed was incomplete, and the hosts took over from there, dominating on the ground.
The Purple Wave would score touchdowns on its next three possessions, two by the run and one through the air.
Ethan Johnson showed why he is one of the best backs in the area as he was tough for the Owls to bring down. His first touchdown came from 11-yards out early in the second quarter to cap an 8-play, 73-yard drive that took up 4:27.
Then, after having forced a quick punt, CBHS struck quickly the next time as they hit a 39-yard scoring pass to double their advantage at 14.
The Owls did manage one first down in their next possession as Hughes hit Hall Thompson for 13 yards on 3rd and 3, but eventually, MUS had to punt. CBHS took over at its 16-yard line and hit five runs of 5 yards or more to get close. And with just 1:03 left in the half, Johnson scored again as he raced in from 18 yards out for the touchdown, giving the hosts the 21-0 halftime lead.
The Owls came out in the second half determined to make a game, and they were successful initially. First, the defense forced an early punt, and MUS took over at its own 30-yard line. Then, with a nice balance of runs and passes, the Owls moved the ball. Gavin Gatere rushed for 32 yards on the drive, and Hughes went 3 for 3 passing, hitting Jacob Wade for 14 yards and John Painter for 17 yards on two passes. A Gatere 11-yard run got the ball to the 1-yard line, and Hughes went in from there for the score. The PAT being missed, the Owls closed the gap to 21-6 with 1:56 left in the 3rd quarter.
But CBHS answered. Staying on the ground the entire 11-play drive, they leaned on the smaller Owl defense, and Johnson ultimately finished the possession from 14-yards out to increase the advantage to 28-6 with 6:24 left in the game.
The Owls struck back fast with a trick play as Jacob Wade took a pitch and then fired a pass to a streaking Kyle Sneed, who raced into the endzone from 69 yards out. The Owls went for 2, and Hughes hit Painter to convert.
Yet that was as close as the Owls could get as they fell, 28-14.
The Owls return home this week for its final regular season home contest. It is also Senior Night as 22 Owl seniors will be recognized. The game kicks off at 7:00 p.m. this Thursday night.
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