Four titles in a row won't be easy for CC

Written by NATHAN BAIRD

Soon after celebrating their third straight undefeated state championship, Central Catholic's players realized how many of them won't be back next season.

The Knights could return 10 of the 22 starting spots from the Class A title victory against Scecina. That doesn't include junior offensive lineman Casey Bollock, who was injured late in the regular season and missed the state tournament.

However, among the departing are Purdue recruit Danny Anthrop, a two-way starter and special teams game-changer, two-year starting quarterback Austin Munn and the entire defensive line.

"It's hard to lose those guys because we've grown up playing with them for a while," junior fullback Brad Schrader said. "Next year, the upcoming senior class will have to take charge. They'll have to take care of business, too, and carry on the tradition."

No one can truly replace Anthrop, but CC coach Kevin O'Shea has spoken highly of sophomore wingback Joe Smith. He missed a large portion of the season due to injury.

The other wingback spot could also be vacated if Jake Churchill is moved to quarterback. But Schrader will be a third-year starter and could be featured more out of the backfield.

The new quarterback will inherit an established deep threat in Timmy Mills. Bollock, Matt Thieme and Patrick Mackey can all bring starting experience back to the offensive line. Whatever young players step up will have benefited from the extra practice and playing time the Knights earned by advancing deep in the state tournament.

"These extra practices do help," O'Shea said. "We're able to get a gauge on where we're at and where we might need to go."

The defense graduates six starters, and possibly loses a seventh if Churchill focuses on quarterback. But three starting juniors return at linebacker: leading tackler Ross Corcoran, Andrew Hubertz and Sam Kochert.

Another junior, Will Jones, started opposite Churchill at cornerback.

That 16-member junior class has never experienced a varsity football loss, which should provide plenty of offseason motivation. Another undefeated season, a tougher task than ever now that CC has returned to the Hoosier Conference, would extend the Knights' winning streak to 60 games and tie Bloomington's state record set from 1967-73.

"The classes before us really set the table," said Hubertz, who recalled that his last loss came as a freshman in a JV game against Roncalli. "We're kind of used to being (in the state finals) now. It's becoming a standard at CC, winning state championships."

Central Catholic Duo Honored!

Written by STAFF REPORTS

Central Catholic seniors Jeff Adams and Danny Anthrop were named to the Indiana Football Coaches Association's Top 50 All-state team.

The list is comprised of players from all of the IHSAA's five football classes. Adams and Anthrop both recently helped Central Catholic win an unprecedented third straight undefeated Class A state championship.

Adams, a 6-foot, 290-pound right guard, blocked for an offense that averaged 210 rushing yards and 366 total yards per game.

Anthrop rushed for 1,757 yards and 32 touchdowns and totaled 834 yards and 13 touchdowns on 44 receptions. The Purdue recruit scored 51 total touchdowns.

Several other area seniors were named All-State in their respective classes, beginning with McCutcheon defensive lineman Brian Price in 5A. West Lafayette offensive lineman Baxter DeBruyn and defensive back Adam Folta, North Montgomery offensive lineman Josh Smith and Southmont defensive back Austin Burton were honored in 3A.

Class 2A selections included Benton Central wide receiver Ty Fischbach and Fountain Central defensive back Austin Mitchell. Central Catholic quarterback Austin Munn, South Newton quarterback and defensive lineman Aaron Schaffer, Attica running back Jarrett Smart, West Central defensive lineman Jordan Culp and linebacker Spencer Dobson, Clinton Central linebacker Brody Quick and Tri-County defensive back David Lehman were chosen in 1A.

Junior All-State selections included North Montgomery defensive lineman Tyler Webster, Twin Lakes tight end Mac Gardiner and West Lafayette defensive lineman Jade Doty in 3A and Fountain Central linebacker Michael Duane in 2A.

Central Catholic wide receiver Timmy Mills and linebacker Ross Corcoran, South Newton defensive lineman Austin Drinski, Covington linebacker Tim Dowers and North White defensive back Colin Hileman made the 1A list.

Football players boost CC past Harrison

Written by NATHAN BAIRD
For the first time this season, Central Catholic coach Dave Barrett started five members of the school's football team in Saturday's J&C Hoops Classic seventh-place game.

Some rustiness would have been excused for those Knights, who didn't achieve the required number of basketball practices until Friday. Yet CC guard Jake Churchill had no such concern regarding teammate Andrew Hubertz.

"He'd been making them all week in practice," Churchill said of the junior forward's outside shot. "There was no doubt in my mind he would come out and light it up for us."

Hubertz hit four 3-pointers in the second quarter en route to a game-high 21 points, and Central Catholic surged to a 73-46 victory over Harrison at Dennis Blind Gymnasium.

Hubertz's flurry came during a 20-3 Knights run in the second quarter, resulting in a double-digit lead that Central Catholic never relinquished.

A starting outside linebacker and receiver on CC's Class A championship football team, Hubertz said early morning shooting sessions with his brother, Will, helped him lock in his long-range touch.

"We wanted to get our offense going off of turnovers and rebounds," said Andrew Hubertz, who also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. "I got hot."

Harrison struggled early against Central Catholic's defensive pressure, committing six turnovers and missing two field goals over the first four minutes. Yet the Raiders still led 14-12 early in the second quarter.

But a 3-pointer by Timmy Mills followed by two from Hubertz shot Central Catholic into the lead. By the end of the half, the Knights led 36-20 and the Raiders were reeling.

Central Catholic opened the second half on an 11-0 run, which Harrison's Jacob Payne finally stopped with a basket with 1:24 left in the third quarter.

"We were in trouble long before (Hubertz) made a shot," Harrison coach Mark Rinehart said. "When a shot didn't go in for us in the first four minutes of the game, we lost all of our focus, all of our energy. It took until the middle of the third quarter before we could defend anybody."

Harrison turned the ball over 27 times, with several of those resulting in layups for Churchill (17 points) and Danny Anthrop (14 points). Cole Smith's 13 points and eight rebounds led the Raiders.