Central Catholic rides ‘dawg’ mentality to 4th consecutive Holy War win vs. Jesuit: 5 takeaways

Central Catholic entered the second week of the season ranked No. 1 in the latest SBLive Oregon Class 6A media poll, and the Rams showed no reason they should relinquish their spot. 

Behind an explosive second quarter that saw Central Catholic put up four touchdowns, the defending Mt. Hood Conference champion cruised to a 28-6 victory over No. 5 Jesuit in the latest chapter of the Holy War rivalry on Friday night at Jesuit High School. 

Senior quarterback Cru Newman, an all-state second-team selection a year ago, did his damage in the air and on the ground, as usual. He completed 12 of 20 attempts for 140 yards and a touchdown, and he added nine carries for 71 yards and a score.

“It feels good,” Newman said. “Right now, we’re building a foundation. We knew (Jesuit is) a great team coming in and well-coached, so getting this win was definitely nice, but we’ve got a lot of things to clean up.”

Central Catholic improves to 2-0 before starting Mt. Hood play next Thursday at Sandy. Jesuit drops to 0-2; the Crusaders lost 28-0 last week to Skyview (Wash.).

Photos by Leon Neuschwander  

Here are five takeaways from Friday’s matchup:

Everybody on Central Catholic’s defense are “dawgs”

After allowing a game-opening 60-yard touchdown drive to Jesuit, Central Catholic’s defense buckled down and didn’t surrender another point the rest of the way.

Jesuit mustered just 177 yards of total offense for the game — with only 117 yards coming after its first drive.

If it wasn’t senior linebacker Dexter Foster bullying his way to blow up plays in the Crusaders’ backfield, it was senior Timmy Mitchell knocking down pass attempts in the secondary. Sophomore James Wade III posted an interception with 5:37 left in the fourth quarter as Jesuit threatened to score after getting deep in Central Catholic territory. 

“Everybody are dawgs; we have that mentality,” said Foster, who forced and recovered a fumble in the second quarter. “It excites me a lot, being a part of a winning program and coming where I came from (Roosevelt) and making that transition. People here, they have a mentality of winning.” 

Oregon State commit delivering on defense

Foster, a three-star linebacker who recently committed to Oregon State, is already making his presence felt. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound senior transferred to Central Catholic from Roosevelt, where he was an all-PIL first-team selection, and is one to watch as the season progresses.

“It’s felt great,” Foster said. “I’ve bonded with some new players. All of them are my brothers, and I love them to death. The change has been great, and it shows on the field. It’s been a dramatic change with coaches, players, and being pushed in practice more. It’s having a different mentality and a more competitive challenge, where I’m going in and being like, ‘I could lose my spot in the game.’”

Foster’s forced fumble and recovery was one of many plays by the Rams defense that squashed any hopes for the Crusaders of climbing back in the game.

He singled out Mitchell for helping him the most with the transition to a new school, and he said the biggest things he’s learned are “be on time and always work hard.”

“(Mitchell) was really the only person I really knew,” Foster said. “So, him just helping me, getting used to the school and meeting new people, I feel like he’s been a big factor with everything.”

Central Catholic coach Steve Pyne praised Foster’s work ethic in practice and games.

“He’s obviously a Division I athlete and he’s extremely athletic,” Pyne said. “He has a great motor and is very coachable. You never know with a kid coming in and what they’re going to be like, but he’s accepted coaching well and I think he just wants to be better.”

Rams’ offense is deep, now needs consistency

Central Catholic’s offense is a work in progress. At times, it’s looked unstoppable, scoring 28 points in the second quarter in each of its first two games.

The Rams have 63 points in the first halves, but only 13 points after halftime. 

“We’ve got to clean up some things in the second half,” Pyne said. “We were the same way last week. We’ve got to figure this out and keep building what we do in the first half versus shooting ourselves in the foot.”

The signs of an elite offense are there. Sophomore running back Tyson Davis scored on a 25-yard run and totaled 82 yards on 10 carries. He had two catches for 39 yards.

Wide receiver Landon Kelsey, a transfer from Ridgefield (Wash.), scored his second touchdown in two games on a highlight catch that saw the 6-foot-3 junior sky high and win a jump ball over his defender. 

Newman scored on a 34-yard run before Mitchell capped the first half with a 51-yard punt return to the end zone.

Add junior receiver and three-star athlete Zhaiel Smith (two catches, 34 yards) and eight total players recording a reception, and the potential is there to be something great.

“It’s fun for me,” said Newman, who helped guide the Rams to the semifinals a year ago and a state title in 2021. “I get to be their little role model and have them under my wing. It’s super fun and they’re ballers, so they’re doing their thing. I’m really proud of them.”

‘Special’ feat in Holy War rivalry

Pyne said Friday’s victory was “special” as it’s the first time a Rams senior class has not lost to Jesuit since his tenure began in 2003, barring a playoff loss to the Crusaders this season.

The Rams knocked off Jesuit the previous two years in the postseason — a 23-20 quarterfinal win last year and a 35-28 triumph in the semifinals in 2021. 

The win also marked the first time under Pyne the Rams have defeated Jesuit at all three levels (varsity, junior varsity and freshman) in the same season.

“This one was pretty sweet that way, but it means nothing in the grand scheme of things,” Pyne said. “They’re going to get better, hopefully we get better, and maybe we’ll see them again.” 

Potter optimistic despite winless start

Jesuit is an uncharacteristic 0-2 to begin the season, but coach Ken Potter remained positive about his team’s effort after the defense did not surrender a point outside of the second quarter.

“It’s hard to make as many mistakes as we made, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Potter, in his 37th season at the helm. “We improved from last week to this week. If we keep doing that, then by Week 8 or 9, we are going to be a formidable opponent to anybody. That’s what I’ve got to look at right now. I’m pleased with the progress we made in a week.”

New starting quarterback Trey Cleeland showed promise with his ability to run and pass. The 6-foot-3 junior was 14 of 36 for 130 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and he added nine carries for 22 yards.

His touchdown came on a 4-yard pass to senior receiver Matt Eilers. 

“He’s a good runner, and he’s done some good things,” Potter said of Cleeland. “Trey is getting better, and the only way to get better is in competition. As with any quarterback, (he needs to) read things quicker, get the ball out of his hands and don’t worry about the pass rush. Find your receiver in areas that they’re going to run.”

Senior Jace Burton led the team with seven catches for 42 yards, and senior Lonnie Burt had 11 carries for 25 yards.

Jesuit’s schedule doesn’t get any easier with Three Rivers League powerhouses West Linn and Tualatin the next two weeks. 

“We just make too many mistakes right now, too many mental mistakes on who we’re supposed to block, where we’re supposed to go and route-running,” Potter said. “But it’s one of those things where you can be disappointed in a loss, but you can look at the kids and how hard they tried, and that’s what we’re all about.”

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Central Catholic 28, Jesuit 6

Central Catholic - 0 - 28- 0 - 0 — 28

Jesuit - 6 - 0 -0 - 0 — 6 

First quarter 

5:51 J - Matt Eilers 4 pass from Trey Cleeland (2-point conversion failed)

Second quarter 

11:31 CC - Tyson Davis 25 run (Zeke Van’t Hof PAT)

5:02 CC - Landon Kelsey 22 pass from Cru Newman (Van’t Hof PAT)

1:15 CC - Newman 34 run (Van’t Hof PAT)

:43 CC - Timmy MItchell 51 punt return (Van’t Hof PAT)

STATISTICS 

Passing — Central Catholic - Cru Newman 12-20, 144, TD; Jesuit - Trey Cleeland 14-36, 130, TD, INT

Rushing — Central Catholic - Newman 9-71, TD, Tyson Davis 10-82, Killian Sombe 8-4, Zhaiel Smith 1-4, Cade Gehlen 2-3; Jesuit - Lonnie Burt 11-25, Cleeland 9-22

Receiving — Central Catholic - Landon Kelsey 2-22, TD, Davis 2-39, Smith 2-34, Andreas Nicolaidis 2-30, Pomer Davison 1-7, Sombe 1-6, Tommy Pempel 1-5, D’Marieon Gates 1-1; Jesuit - Matt Eilers 4-40, TD, Jace Burton 7-42, Elias Johnson 1-20, Grant Valley 1-16, Julius Christensen 1-12

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