Chris Evans’ monster game leads Ben Davis past Cathedral
By CLIFF BRUNT
ISL Editor
Chris Evans made a mistake that could have cost Ben Davis its season opener.
He made sure it didn’t.
The sophomore running back threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, but he bounced back. He carried the load late, and his 9-yard touchdown run with 50 seconds remaining gave the Giants a 26-20 victory over Indianapolis Cathedral Friday night at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The interception was one of the few mistakes Evans made. He caught five passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns and ran nine times for 49 yards and another score.
“Obviously, we’d like to have that interception back,” Ben Davis coach Mike Kirschner said. “Chris isn’t one that thinks good or bad, he just kind of plays. He’s a real talented young man. He’s going to be pretty special before he’s done.”
Evans’ opportunity for redemption came, in part, because senior running back Jamie Akin got dinged and was unable to return. Akin ran for 68 yards on 17 carries and caught two passes for 23 yards before leaving the game. Dorian Tate, another back, didn’t play because of a bad ankle.
Those events led Kirschner to feature Evans late in the game. On the final possession, the 15-year-old carried five times for 37 yards.
“He didn’t have a choice but to grow up,” Kirschner said. “You learn by fire.”
Ben Davis quarterback Kyle Castner completed 15 of 25 passes for 275 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He was thrilled to see Evans break out and help the team roll up 403 yards.
“It’s unbelievable to see him out there, only a sophomore,” Castner said. “He’s looking to be a go-to guy right now. He’s really proven himself.”
The Giants slowed down Ohio State commitment Terry McLaurin. Cathedral’s star receiver caught three passes for 46 yards while fighting constant double teams, and ran four times for 30 yards. On Cathedral’s last possession, the Irish never even targeted him.
“He’s a stud,” Kirschner said. “He’s an absolute phenom player. We decided going into it if they’re going to beat us, it’s not going to be him. It’s going to be somebody else. I thought our guys did a good job kind of keeping everything in front of them in the second half.”
Cathedral’s Collin Barthel completed 17 of 25 passes for 174 yards and Caleb Cross ran for 41 yards and caught seven passes for 56 yards.
On Ben Davis’ first play from scrimmage, Castner found Evans down the middle for a 69-yard touchdown pass.
Cathedral responded with a 16-play, 80-yard drive. Barthel ran eight yards on a fourth-and-2 at the Ben Davis 11 and scored two plays later on a 2-yard quarterback sneak. The extra point was blocked, and Ben Davis still led 7-6.
Ben Davis appeared to have stalled on its next possession when Castner threw incomplete on a third-and-7. Instead, Cathedral was called for an unnecessary roughness, giving Ben Davis a first down at the Cathedral 19. On the next play, Castner found Sean Boswell for a touchdown. The extra point failed, and Ben Davis led 13-6 with 42 seconds left in the first quarter.
Cathedral struck back. McLaurin caught a 26-yard pass to get things moving, and a 15-yard pass interference call against Ben Davis moved the ball to the Ben Davis 22. Barthel’s 1-yard quarterback sneak and the extra point made it 13-all.
Ben Davis threatened to score in the final minute of the half, but Castner threw a deep ball across his body, and Jack Hayden intercepted his second pass of the quarter at the Cathedral 4-yard line with 36 seconds left in the first half.
Castner was unshaken.
“I had a lot of experience with interceptions last year as a sophomore,” he said. “I’ve got to put them past me. The team counts on me, and I throw a pick, I’ve got to come back and drive the team down the field like I did today. I’ve got a great group of guys around me that support me a lot.”
On its first possession of the second half, Ben Davis reached the Cathedral 31, but Castner’s deep ball on a fourth-and-14 fell incomplete.
The Giants cashed in later in the quarter when Evans took a screen pass from Castner and ran it in from 20 yards out to give the Giants a 20-13 lead.
Cathedral’s Barthel tried to force the ball to McLaurin, but he threw into traffic and Brent Brown intercepted for Ben Davis at the Cathedral 14 in the early moments of the fourth quarter.
The Giants had a chance to go for the knockout, but they got fancy and paid for it. Evans got the ball from Castner and lobbed the ball down the field, but Tom Sieber intercepted and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown to tie the score at 20-all with 10:50 to play.
Both teams failed to score on their next possessions, setting up Ben Davis’ winning drive.
“It’s a great way to open up high school football,” Kirschner said. “You’re the opening kickoff. Six o’clock game, you’re on TV. You’ve got a great crowd. It’s what high school football is all about.”
Ben Davis 13 0 7 6 — 26
Cathedral 6 7 0 7 — 20
BD — Chris Evans 69 pass from Kyle Castner (Derek Whitis kick)
C — Collin Barthel 2 run (kick blocked)
BD — Sean Boswell 19 pass from Castner (kick failed)
C — Barthel 1 run (Gerbers kick)
BD — Evans 20 pass from Castner (Whitis kick)
C — Tom Sieber 38 interception return (Gerbers kick)
BD — Evans 9 run (kick failed)
