Sacred Heart Indians

Indians garner second win in a row over St. Paul, 28-6

  • Halfback Clayton Haas scores on a 2-yard run in the third quarter. Chuck Grafe/Tribune-Herald
    Halfback Clayton Haas scores on a 2-yard run in the third quarter. Chuck Grafe/Tribune-Herald
  • Timber Janak (75) and Kellen Mechura (10) fight off blockers to make a tackle. Chuck Grafe/Tribune-Herald
    Timber Janak (75) and Kellen Mechura (10) fight off blockers to make a tackle. Chuck Grafe/Tribune-Herald
  • Marcus Seger (4) closes in on St. Paul’s Sam Perez. Chuck Grafe/Tribune-Herald
    Marcus Seger (4) closes in on St. Paul’s Sam Perez. Chuck Grafe/Tribune-Herald
  • Josh Terry (44) makes the tackle on St. Paul’s Tyler Pendley. Chuck Grafe/Tribune-Herald
    Josh Terry (44) makes the tackle on St. Paul’s Tyler Pendley. Chuck Grafe/Tribune-Herald
  • Hudson Kutac (2) vies for a pass with the Cardinals’ Gus Collins Chuck Grafe/Tribune-Herald
    Hudson Kutac (2) vies for a pass with the Cardinals’ Gus Collins Chuck Grafe/Tribune-Herald

    Clayton Haas had a career game in helping the Sacred Heart Indians to a 28-6 verdict over St. Paul here Friday night in a TAPPS District 5 Division IV game.

    Haas scored three touchdowns - the biggest of all an 80-yard kickoff return to open the second half after the Indians led 7-6 lead at the intermission.

    “Clayton Haas running back the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown was certainly huge for us in seizing the momentum and maintaining it for the rest of the game,” Indian head coach Alex Seydler said. “I’m extremely happy for and proud of our kids. They played a tough, hard nosed game from start to finish and went out and earned the victory on the field.

    “It’s always a wonderful feeling to get a win, but it’s extra sweet when it comes against your arch rival. Our defense was solid throughout the game generating several three and outs and giving our offense good field position to begin drives. Offense was a real struggle for us in the first half, but improved in the second half by scoring a couple of touchdowns,” Seydler added.

    The Indians (4-3, 1-1) shut down the Cardinal offense in the second half and allowed just one first down and 43 yards. The Indians ran 55 plays from scrimmage in the game to the Cardinals’ 43. The Indians were 4-for-8 on money downs.

    St. Paul finished with a mere 171 yards.

    Haas finished with a career-high 130 yards on 15 carries and the Indians had 330 yards total offense.

    SH started four drives in plus territory and also left some points on the field after a field attempt was blocked.

    The Cardinals scored with 4:21 left in the first quarter after a 72-yard, 8-play drive. Halfback Gus Collins had a 26-yard gain and halfback Sam Perez contributed a gain of 21 yards. Perez did the honors with a 10-yard scoring run, but the extra point kick was blocked.

    SH countered with a 67-yard, 9-play scoring drive. A 14-yard pass from quarterback Andrew Steffek to Emerson Harvey on third down moved the ball to the Cardinal 17 and Steffek scored three plays later from the 2-yard line. Steffek kicked the PAT with 10:01 remaining in the second period for a 7-6 Indian lead.

    After Haas’s kickoff return, SH scored on its next possession, going 57-yards in 11 plays with Haas scoring from 2 yards out. Haas had a pair of 18-yard drives to spark the drive.

    The Indians’ final touchdowns came with 4:22 to go in the fourth quarter when Haas broke loose on a 64-yard run.

    The Cardinals were assessed 7 penalties for 70 yards and the Indians just 2 for 15 yards.

    Steffek completed 15 of 24 passes for 152 yards. Hudson Kutac caught 7 for 69 yards.