Rowell, IC Catholic Prep stun Aurora Central in final minute
IC Catholic Prep sophomore running back Jordan Rowell rushed for four touchdowns to stun host Aurora Central Catholic 30-23 in Metro Suburban West conference action Friday night in Aurora.
Rowell might have thought his night was over after his third touchdown run of 7 yards gave the Knights a 23-15 lead, but Chargers senior Brandon Babler returned the ensuing kickoff back 80 yards, and then caught a pass from Matt Rahn for the game-tying 2-point conversion.
So Rowell went back to work. With just 1:36 left in the game, Rowell caught a 9-yard pass and ran the ball three times for 62 yards, the final carry for a 41-yard touchdown with 38.9 seconds left in the game to seal the victory.
"We opened up the lines a lot in the second half, so that's why I was able to run for those long touchdowns. I couldn't have done that without my offensive line," Rowell said. "I saw an opening and just ran for it and it all worked out."
Knights head coach Bill Krefft praised Rowell's heroics, and also his character.
"Jordan is an exceptional football player," Krefft said. "He plays offense, defense, and special teams, and contributes at a high level. He's the kind of guy that makes everyone around him better. This is a new offensive system that we're only in our fifth game of running right now, so it's a tribute to the kids and how smart they are to be running it this well right now."
The Knights scored the first points of the game in unconventional fashion when the ball was snapped over punter Victor Franco's head and bounced out of the end zone for a safety.
The Chargers (4-1, 0-1) took the lead 7-2 halfway through the second quarter on Brandon Babler's 42-yard touchdown run. And that's how the first half ended.
The Knights (2-3, 1-0) took the lead back midway through the third quarter on Rowell's first touchdown of the night - a 72-yard run down the right sideline.
The Chargers took the lead back on Roman Padilla's 2-yard dive on fourth and goal, and Rahn ran it in to complete the 2-point conversion for a 15-9 Charger lead at the start of the fourth quarter.
Two minutes later, Rowell struck again from 34 yards out to give the Knights a 1-point lead 16-15.
The Chargers were forced to punt on their next possession and after a negative 3-yard punt gave the ball back to the Knights on the Chargers' 24-yard line, it appeared the Knights were ready to seal the game away. However, the Chargers forced a 26-yard field goal attempt that was wide left, and subsequently took over on their own 20.
But it seemed that everywhere the Chargers turned, Rowell was there to greet them, as the sophomore grabbed his second interception on the night six plays later to give the Knights possession on the Chargers' 35-yard line, and six plays after that Rowell powered his way into the end zone for a 23-15 lead.
Babler's 80-yard kickoff return gave the Chargers and their home fans hope after the 2-point conversion tied the game at 23-23.
Unfortunately for the Chargers, Rowell wasn't finished. Facing third-and-10 on the Charger 41-yard line, the 6-2, 190-pound speedster took off down the right sideline, shrugged off several would-be tacklers, and then broke through and outran everyone for the game's clinching score.
Aurora Central Catholic coach Brian Casey was disappointed by the loss, but will look for something to share with his team for a learning experience.
"We'll try to find something we can take away from this game and learn from," Casey said. "We're always looking to get better and we feel we left a few plays out there tonight, but we'll try to get better for next Friday."