(Guthrie Center) What a difference a week makes. ACGC bounced back from frustrating Week 3 loss to Woodward-Granger by downing Kuemper Catholic 35-0 on Friday night.
The Chargers were in search of some discipline and leadership after dipping to 1-2 last week. Following their Week 4 performance they evened their record at 2-2 and are feeling good about the way things came together. Cody Matthewson was admittedly a happy coach afterwards. “I would say I was very pleased, obviously. The scoreboard was a big difference, but the kids played with much more emotion and more discipline. We were a much different team than we were seven days ago.”
The Chargers rushed for over 200 yards, led by Charlie Crawford carrying nine times for 90 yards. Gavin Cornelison rumbled for 74 yards and one score on 17 attempts. Brock Littler scored twice on his five carries spanning 32 yards. Littler also found Cayden Jensen on a 38 yard touchdown play on the first play of the 2nd quarter. The sophomore QB completed his first three throws of the night and had over 80 yards through the air. Gunnar Larsen topped 30 yards on a handful of rushing attempts.
Senior lineman Gage Buttler felt the team controlled the line of scrimmage. He relishes to opportunity to pave the way for a good set of skill players. “Our offense is based of of outplaying people physically and beating them with the run game. I thought we did that. We had a lot of young guys step up and play with their hair on fire, get down field and make the big blocks. I love blocking for guys like them. After a big run in the huddle, there’s nothing better. It makes it so much more fun when you have a grateful set of running backs and a good quarterback like we do. It’s just a good time out there. I don’t care if I don’t get a stat in the stat book, I’m helping them make plays. I like to see them be happy and putting up points on the board.”
Crawford has gone over 450 rushing yards through the season in four games and is averaging more than ten yard per carry. He’s having a breakout junior season. “It’s all about up front. We had a great push. I just hit the hole and make one move. Our hogs are great up front. I’ve developed quite a bit since freshman year. I was very small and I’m not much bigger now, but it just helps to get experience. Three years of playing varsity really helps.”
After a Kuemper Catholic 3 and out, Brock Littler capped ACGC’s opening drive with a six yard touchdown run. Littler’s 2-point conversion run made it an 8-0 lead, which stood for the rest of the quarter. The 2nd quarter is when the home squad took a stranglehold of the game. Littler hit Cayden Jensen for a 38-yard TD on the first play of the quarter. Leading 14-0, The Chargers recovered a surprise onside kick. They’d punch in another scored four minutes later to extend the lead to three possessions. Gavin Cornelison’s 2 yard plunge across the goal line put ACGC up 22-0. Brock Littler’s six yard scamper with 3:06 left in the half pushed the lead to 29-0.
The second half featured just one score. Austin Kunkle returned an interception for a touchdown early in the 4th quarter to put the running clock rule into effect. The victory gives ACGC some much needed momentum heading into a big game at Van Meter next week. Kuemper Catholic, which missing multiple starters, struggled to sustain offensive drives against the Chargers. Logan Sibenaller led the nights on the ground with 28 yards on seven carries. Dawson Edwards caught two passes for 21 yards. Kuemper Catholic falls to 1-3 and will play Woodward-Granger next.
