Cate’s 8-man football showed a new wildcat formation on Saturday with the purpose of getting the ball into the hands of Randy Person.
Cate’s Randy Person scored five touchdowns against the Owls on Halloween
It’s easy to see why after Person rushed for four touchdowns and added another on a 78-yard kick return in a 56-6 mercy-rule decision at Laguna Blanca.
“He’s a pretty talented runner. He makes things happen and he can also throw the ball,” explained Cate’s head coach Ben Soto, detailing the options it gives the Rams heading into a de facto Condor League championship game with Thacher next week.
Both teams are 3-0 in league, but the Toads hold experience with 10 seniors and a higher ranking at No. 3.
“We’ve been working all year to get us in a position to play for the Condor League Championship and that’s what we’re doing, so we’re excited about it,” Soto said.
Person’s first touchdown was from 28 yards out, followed by scoring runs of 11, 12 and 5 yards.
“It’s hard,” Person said of the new offense. “Quarterbacks have it rough actually. Taking the snap and being able to not fumble. It’s not easy but it’s fun.”
Laguna Blanca’s Austin Rusack answered Person’s first TD run with a 65-yard dash up the middle that made it 7-6 early in the first quarter after the point-after failed.
“Pound-for-pound, he’s the toughest kid in the league,” Owls coach Ray Robitaille said unequivocally.
One of the smaller players on the field, Rusack plays linebacker on defense, running back on offense and is the long-snapper on special teams.
After Rusack’s dash, Person took the ensuing kickoff to the house and Houston Bradley blocked a punt out of the endzone on the Owls’ following possession for a safety. Two more Person touchdowns, plus a 10-yard score from Harry Bruner, put Cate up 37-6 at the end of the first quarter.
Cate’s Luke Shover hauls in a 27-yard touchdown pass from Mackie Greason in the second quarter
The Rams extended the lead to 50-6 by halftime on Person’s fifth touchdown of the game and Mackie Greason’s 27-yard TD pass to Luke Shover.
Needing a 45-point margin to induce the mercy-rule, Ugo Nwasike ended the game on a 2-yard plunge into the end zone with 6:52 remaining in the third quarter.
The Owls, who will return 10-of-12 players next season, face Dunn in their season finale on Saturday.
“It’s good to have a young team, they’ll learn and they’ll come of age,” said Robitaille, hopeful the Owls can get their second win of the season against the Earwigs.
Cate, meanwhile, knows what it has ahead: the perennial league champion Toads.
“They’re stacked,” said Person. “I just hope that we can take this one and carry it over.”
