Joseph Natal runs through a hole created by his offensive line. Natal scored the game winner with under 20 seconds left. [ NOTE: click photo to enlarge ]

photo by Lori Raabe

COLUMBUS – The St. Paul Cardinals stamped its ticket to the state title game with a thrilling comeback.

The Cardinals overcame a 17-3 deficit with 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to take a 24-17 win over Hallettsville Sacred Heart in a TAPPS Division IV state semifinal game at Memorial Stadium Saturday ( December 1, 2018 ) afternoon.

Halfback Joseph Natal, who rushed for 205 yards on 33 carries, scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 2-yard run with 18 seconds remaining in the fourth period.

Natal set up the touchdown with a 67- yard run to the Indian 15 and scored three plays later to cap an 85-yard drive.

“We made some critical plays when we needed to,” St. Paul headcoach Jake Wachsmuth said. “The kids never gave up and continue to fight.”

Luke Darilek brings Sacred Heart quarterback Sam Brown down to the ground for a loss Saturday in Columbus. [ NOTE: click photo to enlarge ]

photo by Chuck Grafe, Hallettsville Tribune-Herald.

Sacred Heart took a 17-3 lead with 3:47 to go in the third quarter on a 41-yard pass from quarterback Sam Brown to Dalton Grahmann. St. Paul replied with a 62-yard 17-play drive capped by a 1-yard run by Natal.

After the ensuing kickoff, the Indians fumbled on the first play from scrimmage and the Cardinals recovered at the Sacred Heart 40. On a third-and-7 play from the Indians 22, Dalton Jahn made a leaping catch of a Kai Giese pass for the touchdown and Sam Benes’ point after tied the game at 17-17.

Sacred Heart took a 7-0 lead on the opening possession of the game with halfback Cory Heger going in from 6 yards out to end an 81-yard, 6-play drive.

The teams then swapped field goals Benes kicking a 36-yarder and Josh Steffek booted one from 33 yards out and the Indians led 10-3 at the half.

Brown represented a large portion of the Indian offense with 147 yards rushing on 15 carries threw for 114 yards.

St. Paul amassed 355 yards total offense to Sacred Heart’s 288.

St. Paul advances to the state finals with a 5-8 ledger. They will take on Fort Worth Lake Country Christian who is currently 8-4 on the season.

GAME STATISTICS

  Shiner St. Paul 24, Hallettsville Sacred Heart 17
    Saturday, December 1, 2018, 2:00 p.m.
    Columbus Memorial Stadium


  SCORING SUMMARY

                     1    2    3    4      F
    Sacred Heart     7    3    7    0  -- 17
    St. Paul         0    3    0   21  -- 24


  SCORING DETAILS:

    First Quarter
      HSH - Cory Heger 6 run (Josh Steffek kick), 9:13 1Q.

    Second Quarter
      SSP - Sam Benes 36 FG, 4:57 2Q.
      HSH - Steffek 33 FG, 3:47 2Q.

    Third Quarter
      HSH - Dalton Grahmann 41 pass from Sam Brown (Steffek kick), 3:47 3Q.

    Fourth Quarter
      SSP - Joseph Natal 1 run (Benes kick), 8:22 4Q.
      SSP - Dalton Grahmann 41 pass from Sam Brown (Steffek kick), 3:47 4Q.
      SSP - Natal 2 run (Benes kick), 0:18 4Q.


  TEAM STATISTICS:

                 Sacred Heart       St. Paul
    First downs             9            21
    Rushes-yards       23-174        53-265
    Passing yards         114            90
    Passes               5-10          9-15
    Penalties-yards      5-45          6-55
    Fumbles-lost          2-2           1-1
    Punts-aver         3-36.6         0-0.0


  INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS:

  Rushing
    HSH: Sam Brown 15-147, Austin Kraatz 3-11, Cory Heger 3-10, Lane Leopold 1-5, Jared Brown 1-1.
    SSP: Joseph Natal 33-205, Noah Boedeker 10-43, Zak Johnson 3-13, Carson Reese 1-5, Kai Giese 6-(-1).

  Passing
    HSH: Brown 5-10-0-114.
    SSP: Giese 9-15-0-90.

  Receiving
    HSH: Heger 2-45, Jared Brown 2-28, Dalton Grahmann 1-41.
    SSP: Dalton Jahn 5-62, Jared Pesek 2-6, Boedeker 1-23, Natal 1-(-1).