By NEIL HESSE
Register Correspondent
MUENSTER — Rockwall Christian came to Tiger Field Friday night and lived up to their pre-game hype, but the Sacred Heart Tigers were able to come away with a 35-20 victory.
Stephan Turner, the highly touted junior from Rockwall Christian, stole the show early. He lined up from the quarterback position for most of the game but also lined up at receiver. He was shifty and speedy. He and Rockwall Christian were gifted early with Sacred Heart turnovers and penalties. Three first-half turnovers and two crucial block-in-the-back penalties after the Tigers had large punt returns, put Sacred Heart in a large hole early.
The Tigers fell behind 14-0 as Turner used his speed to take control of the game.
The Tigers began their comeback near the end of the half and scored three times in the final 2:39 of the second quarter. John Kraewitz had a key run on an end around and Mark Bartush pushed it in for the final three yards. Jae Kook Im added the PAT to make it 14-7.
Following the kickoff, Rockwall threw a lateral that Josh Biffle alertly picked up and ran it in for a 14-14 tie.
The Tigers then forced a punt. With :32 seconds remaining before half, Sacred Heart took over on their own 30-yard line. A pass to Bob Bartush picked up 16 yards to the 46-yard line. On the very next play, the Tigers ran a hook-and-ladder as Hesse threw it to Kyle Knabe who, in turn, pitched it to John Kraewitz who was streaking down the left sideline. He got down to the Rockwall 34-yard line. Then with 3 seconds left on the clock, Hesse threw it into the left corner of the end zone as time ran out and Bob Bartush came down with it amongst a couple of Rockwall defenders. After Im’s PAT, the Tigers took a 21-14 halftime lead.
The third quarter included a couple more Sacred Heart fumbles. On Rockwall’s first possession of the quarter, Hesse picked off a pass on the Rockwall 35-yard line and returned it to the 10-yard line. A penalty nullified a Bob Bartush touchdown catch and a field goal try was just wide left.
On the ensuing series for Rockwall, Bob Bartush picked off a Turner pass as he made a super catch. The Tigers would take over on their next possession at their own 31-yard line. Two key passes from Hesse to Greyson Evans picked up a couple of first downs and the Tigers’ methodical drive included six first downs as Hesse snuck it over the goal line from 1 yard out on the first play of the fourth quarter. Im’s PAT made it 28-14 Sacred Heart.
Rockwall Christian scored on a 43-yard pass play from Turner to Sam Harting. The PAT was blocked by Garrett Berend and Sacred Heart led 28-20.
After a stalled Tiger drive, Kraewitz picked off a Rockwall pass and returned it to their 30-yard line. A few plays later, Josh Biffle found paydirt with 51 seconds on the game clock and Sacred Heart led 35-20 and that was the final.
Defensively Matt Hesse and Josh Biffle both had 7 tackles, while Josiah Yosten, Garrett Berend, Chad Henscheid and Alex Turner all had 5 tackles.
