Dreams become reality for Central Catholic football seniors in their final high school season
Sure, it might be an old cliché, but, yes, sometimes dreams do come true.
If you don’t believe that, then just go talk to the seniors on the Central Catholic football team.
The veterans on the Rams squad have put in four seasons of hard work. They’ve been leaders, they’ve been big brothers, they’ve stayed positive, they’ve included everyone, and they’ve guided the team down the path to glory.
Their reward — getting to go out with a bang.
The seniors on the Central Catholic squad finished in the best way possible, downing Tualatin 49-21 in the 2023 Class 6A state championship game at Hillsboro Stadium.
And, following the title-winning victory, no one was smiling brighter than the Rams’ seniors.
“This has been a dream of ours,” Central Catholic senior receiver Niko May said during the Rams’ victory celebration on the Hillsboro Stadium turf. “We all came in freshman year, and we’ve been talking about this forever. So, to see it come true, and our names be a big part of it, has been amazing.”
“The seniors are just amazing,” Central Catholic senior defensive back Timmy Mitchell said. “I’ve been with them since my freshman year, and to be able to deliver our senior year and go out with this win has been great.”
For the Central Catholic seniors who have been with the program all four of their high school years, it started at the high school level with the revised 2021 spring season. That team went 5-1.
That 2021 Central Catholic spring team had seven freshmen on the varsity roster — Cru Newman, Ty Jones, Mitchell, Pomer Davison, Jeremiah Katsuta, Grover Melo and Matix Carpenter — who were on the roster for last month’s title-game win over Tualatin. And, of course, there were plenty of current seniors who played on lower-level Central Catholic football teams that year.
According to Carpenter, a standout offensive and defensive lineman for the Rams, that group of then-freshmen made their presence known right from the start.
“The seniors on this team from Day 1 have had big roles and have been key players on this team from a young age,” Carpenter said. “They’ve been big ballers and have been putting the hammer down every game and every drive.”
During the 2021 fall season, the seniors’ then-sophomore year, Central Catholic claimed the state championship, defeating Tualatin 44-14.
Two of the current seniors, Newman and Mitchell, shined for the Rams in that victory. Newman, the starting quarterback, completed 12 of 24 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 104 yards on 11 carries. Mitchell had a 27-yard fumble return for a touchdown, broke up three passes and was in on eight tackles, tying him for game-high honors.
Last year, the current seniors’ junior season, Central Catholic fell just short of the team’s championship aspirations. The 2022 Rams went 10-2, ending with a 49-17 loss to West Linn in the semifinal round of the Class 6A state playoffs.
This year, in their final high school season, the Central Catholic seniors wouldn’t be denied.
The Rams went 9-0 in regular-season play. They opened the campaign with a 48-27 win over traditional Washington power Bellevue. They then downed Jesuit 28-6 before cruising through their Mt. Hood Conference schedule.
Central Catholic opened postseason play with a 56-0 win over North Medford, followed by a 42-6 victory against Lakeridge. In a semifinal showdown, the Rams got a bit of vengeance, beating West Linn 12-7.
That victory put Central Catholic in the title tilt with the Timberwolves. The Rams had 21 seniors on their roster for the championship game, including the team’s four captains for the contest: Cade Gehlen, Newman, Carpenter and Sam Schuver.
The seniors on the team certainly seemed to do their best to make sure the Rams would finish with a win — and a championship.
Newman had another outstanding performance, completing 19 of 24 passes for 346 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 96 yards and two more scores.
Carpenter and Israel Palacios anchored an offensive line that led the way for the Rams rushing for 290 yards and five touchdowns on 28 carries while also not allowing a single sack.
Senior tight end/linebacker Dexter Foster had a touchdown catch on offense to go with three total tackles, two pass breakups and a quarterback hit on defense.
Also on the defensive side, Mitchell provided strong pass coverage and was in on seven total tackles. Gehlen had six total tackles and a pass breakup. Carpenter was in on a game-high eight tackles. Katsuta was in on four total tackles. Clyde Allen had three total tackles, and Jones had the game’s only interception.
Senior kicker Zeke Van’t Hof drilled all seven of his extra-point attempts.
“They’ve always been a big part of both our defense and our offense,” Carpenter said of the seniors.
The veterans have something else going for them — their cohesiveness.
“Everyone in our whole senior group are close friends,” May said.
“We’re a pretty close-knit group,” Carpenter said. “But across the board, a pretty big thing we have is a social pyramid, where usually the seniors are at the top and the freshman at the bottom. But we flipped that. We’re all just one big family.”
Maybe that’s a reason the seniors are looked upon by the rest of the team as strong leaders.
“They’re all leaders,” said Central Catholic junior receiver Landon Kelsey, who had four catches for 136 yards and a touchdown in the championship game. “With Pomer, Niko, Cru, we had team meetings every week in the playoffs. We’d get together and just talk about locking in and all of that stuff. We have a great group of leaders.”
“They meant a lot,” junior lineman/linebacker Zach Davis said of the seniors. “They came in here as leaders and built us up. They’re all supportive. That’s what they do.”
“The seniors meant a lot,” junior receiver Zhaiel Smith said. “I’ve been close with them, we love them, and I’m glad we let them leave with a bang.”
Even with the current seniors set to graduate in the spring, Central Catholic appears to have a strong returning team, and maybe another strong group of seniors, eligible to return next year.
“This was super fun,” Smith said. “I can’t wait to be here again next year — hopefully.”
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