Jordan Zlogar made all the important catches when Shenendehowa needed them the most.
The senior receiver caught 10 passes for 147 yards, the last of which set up the Plainsmen’s go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter to help Shen beat Christian Brothers Academy 25-20 in the Section 2 Class AA football final Friday, Nov. 7, at Bob Ford Field.
Zlogar also intercepted CBA quarterback Joe Kolbe twice to help the Plainsmen (10-0) advance to the regionals Saturday, Nov. 15, in Kingston, while denying the Brothers (8-2) a second straight Sectional championship.
“It was a great football game,” said CBA coach Joe Burke. “Give Shen credit for responding to our (defensive) pressure … and their receivers for making the catches.”
CBA looked good on its opening possession, but it ended when Shen’s defense forced tailback Jaylen McIntyre to fumble the ball at the Plainsmen’s 32-yard line. The Brothers’ second offensive series reached Shen’s 5-yard line, but it ended with a missed field goal.
Zlogar’s first interception came late in the first quarter when he picked off Kolbe at Shen’s 35-yard line. A 21-yard run by Matt Taft and a 15-yard CBA penalty planted the Plainsmen at CBA’s 29-yard line, but two consecutive Shen penalties moved the Plainsmen back to their own 42-yard line as time expired in the first quarter.
Quarterback Ryan Van Galen kept Shen’s drive alive at the start of the second quarter. He connected with Zlogar on two sideline routes to create a manageable fourth down and one-inch play at CBA’s 20-yard line. Van Galen plunged forward to get the first down.
Four plays later, Taft scored on an 8-yard run up the middle with a CBA defender clinging to his back. Thomas Clurczak’s extra point gave Shen a 7-0 lead.
CBA needed 45 seconds to respond to Shen’s touchdown. Ben Anthony took the handoff from Kolbe, ran up the middle and then cut right for a 55-yard touchdown run. Matt Hamel added the extra point to tie the score at 7-7. Missed field goals by both teams kept the score knotted at halftime.
CBA’s defense made the first big play of the second half when Austin Ellis intercepted Van Galen at the Brothers’ 47-yard line. Three plays later, Kolbe connected with Donald Vivian on a 39-yard touchdown pass for a 13-7 CBA lead.
Shen turned back to Van Galen, and the senior signal caller delivered. He completed passes to Zlogar, Willy Stevenson and Brendan Marra to get the Plainsmen to CBA’s 4-yard line. Van Galen then kept it himself for a 2-yard touchdown run to tie the score at 13-13.
A 33-yard gain by McIntyre later in the third quarter placed CBA at Shen’s 6-yard line, but Kolbe had to leave after suffering a minor leg injury while pitching the ball to McIntyre. Vivian stepped in at quarterback and scored two plays later on a 4-yard run. Hamel made the extra point to put the Brothers ahead 20-13.
Marra created a little magic for Shen on the final play of the third quarter. He caught a pass from Van Galen and dodged several CBA tacklers before diving over the front left corner of the end zone for a 51-yard touchdown. Clurczak’s extra point attempt went wide, though, which left CBA with a 20-19 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Things went wrong for the Brothers from there. Anthony and Nasir Tune suffered leg injuries on consecutive offensive plays early in the fourth quarter. Anthony returned a short time later, but Tune – who gained 47 yards on eight carries – was lost for the rest of the game.
Shen’s offense continued to move the ball as CBA sputtered without Tune. The Plainsmen drove inside the Brothers’ 20-yard line, but Vivian intercepted Van Galen on third down and long to end the threat. However, CBA failed to get a first down on its ensuing offensive series and punted the ball back to Shen with more than four minutes left in the fourth quarter.
“We had to get a few first downs, and we didn’t do that,” said Burke.
Zlogar made his presence felt again. He made two catches along the sideline for first downs and hauled in a 36-yard pass from Van Galen that might have been a 40-yard touchdown had he not tripped himself up at CBA’s 4-yard line. That didn’t matter, as Taft scored the go-ahead touchdown for Shen on the next play.
CBA’s final offensive series ended with one more turnover, as an errant snap led to Shen recovering the loose ball at the Brothers’ 10-yard line. CBA coughed up the ball four times.
“No matter how hard you work and no matter how hard you play … sometimes things don’t work out the way you want them to,” said Burke.
Anthony rushed for 92 yards, and McIntyre contributed 82 yards for CBA. Van Galen threw for 297 yards, and Taft ran for 91 yards for Shen.
