McLouth Defense shuts out Patriots 6-0

KANSAS CITY - The McLouth Bulldogs shut out the Christ Prep Patriots tonight 6-0 at Center HS.  The defensive slugfest started on the first possession and then continued for the rest of the night.  Last season at home the Bulldogs had no trouble putting points on the board, cruising to a 42-7 victory but this year it was a different story.  McLouth's only score came on a 30 pass from quarterback Jack Courtney to all-state receiver Nick McAferty with 8:18 to go in the game.  Prior to that play neither team threatened to score.

In the first quarter, the Bulldogs did penetrate the Patriot red zone to the twelve yard line but Chase Stamatis picked off the Drew Cerney pass in the end zone to quash that scoring opportunity.  And in the second quarter with McLouth deep in Christ Prep territory, Will Cook recovered a Courtney fumble.  

Chase Stamatis with a 3rd quarter reception against McLouth.  The Patriots were shut out and lost 6-0.

When the first half ended with the score 0-0, intensity filled the air.  When the fourth quarter started with the score unchanged you could cut the tension with a knife.  The Patriot defense was led by Tanner Metzdorf (11 tackles) and Cameron Rucker (10 tackles & a fumble recovery) but every Patriot contributed to the stellar defensive effort.

David Schilling, Stephen Malloy, and Charlie  Davis give Tanner Metzdorf time to throw deep.

Poor field position plagued the Patriots all night but Coach Jay Geeding's bend but don't break defense stymied the Bulldog offense for three and a half quarters before McAferty got loose.

Offensively, Christ Prep could not get anything going until late in the game and even when they did they hurt themselves with penalties.  Metzdorf's passing line was 13-24-0 for 139 yard before the final two possessions when he went only completed one of 10 passes with the Bulldogs in a prevent defense.  He finished 14-34-0 with 150 yards and 45 of that came on a pass to Stamatis late in the first half.

Cook rumbled 38 yards off the right side sprung by a David Schilling block to set the Patriots up at the McLouth 30 but the Patriots stalled at the 23.  Cook finished the night with 59 yards rushing.

McLouth raised their record to 2-1.  CPA dropped to 2-1 on the season and travel to Oskaloosa for a chance to redeem another loss from last season.

Will Cook carries the ball against a stingy McLouth defense.

NOTES:

McLouth recorded the first shutout of Christ Prep since the Patriots began playing 11-man football in 2006.

The CPA defense held McLouth to its lowest total since the second round playoff loss last year.