Perseverance is a much admired and beneficial quality and the young men who have continued to participate in Bearcat football this season demonstrate that quality in abundance.
There is always the temptation to take the easy out, and some have, but those who see it through will know benefit even if it is not yet easily seen.
The Christopher-Zeigler-Royalton Bearcats faced adversity from the very first series in their 54-8 loss to Johnston City Friday night.
Johnston City’s Luca Gualdoni ran in from the C-Z-R 47 for the first of many Indian scores. Gualdoni was successful on the point after touchdown and Johnston City had an early 7-0 lead.
Shortly thereafter Coleton Jeralds of the Indians intercepted a C-Z-R pass and Gualdoni did it again, this time from 15 yards out. Once again he kicked the conversion and Johnston City had a 14-0 lead with 8:57 still left in the first quarter.
After the Cats were unable to move the ball, the Indians started their next series on the C-Z-R 27. J.C. struck immediately on a 27 yard Alec Blades to Luca Gualdoni touchdown pass at the 7:20 mark, still in the first quarter. Uncharacteristically, Gualdoni missed the point after and the score was 20-0 at 7:20 left to play in the 1st.
On the next series, Houston Hall of the Indians intercepted a Bearcat pass and returned it to the C-Z-R 11. Soon after the turnover Johnston City pushed it in from the one and Gualdani hit the extra point and the Indians extended their lead to 27-0.
Meanwhile a torrential rain hit the field and sent the crowd scurrying for cover. The rain didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the cheerleaders however, they just donned their ponchos and continued their spirited support.
The Bearcats were finally able to put together some offense and marched the ball down the field, first on a Cam Newton to Derek Mueller pass followed by another Newton pass this time to Steven Anderson. Cats quarterback Newton then snuck the ball to the J.C. one yard line. He then carried the ball the remaining yard for the score. Steven Anderson ran in the two point conversion and the score narrowed to 48-8.
The half ended with that score and for most the second half C-Z-R held the Indians even. The Indians tallied their final score on another Dallas Johnson run, this time of 15 yards. The point after snap was bad and the conversion was no good, making the final score 54-8 in favor of Johnston City.
