St. Paul makes second straight state title game
Despite changes, St. Paul makes second title game
by Albert Alvarado, Advocate Sports Writer
Saturday, December 3, 2011
AdvoSports.com Story | St. Paul Cardinal Football | Shiner Home Page
SHINER -The St. Paul Cardinals came into 2011 with a new quarterback, a retooled offensive line, a new coach and without the services of TAPPS Div. IV Championship Game Most Valuable Player Brandon Sciba.
Despite all that, they are right back where they were last season - playing for the TAPPS Div. IV State Championship.
"We're always under looked, but we believed in each other and our team and look where we are now," said senior wide receiver and defensive end Justin Natal.
The Cardinals (11-2) will go for their second straight state championship and fifth overall when they play rival Hallettsville Sacred Heart (12-1) at Wildcats Stadium in Temple on Saturday.
"I don't know if anybody saw us going this far, but we're glad to be here," said Cardinals head coach Paul Johnston.
The Cardinals went to Hallettsville and beat the Indians 14-12 earlier this season.
After beating Colleyville Covanent 48-41 in Killeen last season, St. Paul knew they had to replace a senior laden offensive line along with quarterback Devin Pesek and other key contributors like Sciba.
In late July, then St. Paul head coach Jake Wachsmuth left the Cardinals to become Yoakum's secondary coach.
When Johnston took over at St. Paul, he saw the need to institute a spread offense to better suit the personnel he inherited.
This is the first time the Indians and Cardinals will play for a football state title.
Although Johnston is in his first year as Cardinals head coach, he has already seen what playing Sacred Heart means for the players, parents, alumni and the rest of the St. Paul community.
"Even when we play Sacred Heart in a district game, the rivalry is there, the emotions are there, the fans and everybody is into it," Johnston said. "The fact that it's a state championship game, and we've never played them in football in a state championship game magnifies it that much more."
From 1989 to 2009, the Indians owned the rivalry, winning 17 straight games. The tides have turned recently as St. Paul has won the last three games in the series.
In their previous meeting with Sacred Heart, a late Leightin Pilat interception set up the Indians' final score. Last week, against The Woodlands Christian, the Indians fumbled five times and lost three.
The Cardinals know they have to cut down on the mistakes if they plan to win a second straight state title.
"In big games, those are hard to dig out of," Johnston said. "We don't need to be punting or turning the ball over to them."
Although one would think the Cardinals experience gives them the edge, Johnston said that's not the case since the Indians have a senior laden team and more experienced starters.
One of those seniors is workhorse running back Sterling Hrncir.
Against St. Paul earlier this year, Hrncir rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
In the playoffs, Hrncir has stepped up, averaging 173 yards per game and has scored 12 touchdowns in wins over Beaumont Legacy, Colleyville Covenant and Bryan Brazos Christian.
Natal is confident the Cardinals' defense can limit Hrncir on Saturday.
"He's good, he's fast, but we're going to step up and we're going to shut him down," Natal said.
Johnston admitted that, although, the Cardinals can gameplan to stop Hrncir, all he needs is one play to break off a long run to the end zone.
"When you're playing against a kid with that kind of talent, every play can be a big play," Johnston said. "We have to wrap up and make tackles."
Offensively, St. Paul quarterback Dakota Kresta is having a breakout season in his first year as a starter under the spread offense.
The junior quarterback has thrown for 2,342 yards and 25 touchdowns and run for 382 yards and three scores.
"He stepped up big time," Natal said. "He gets the ball there, he's doing his job."
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