Best defense in Central Catholic history? That unit ‘came out like dogs,’ states its case in dominant win over Tualatin in 6A final

“We trained through the summer, and we were just meant to get here and win.”

By Dan Brood| Photos by Taylor Balkom

It’s said that defense wins games.

It’s also said that defense wins championships.

The Central Catholic football team can definitely attest to just how true those statements are.

While the Rams’ potent offensive attack certainly played a role, the Central Catholic defense seemed to step up in a huge, huge way, helping the Rams power their way to a 44-14 win over Tualatin in the Class 6A state championship game, played Saturday under rainy conditions at Hillsboro Stadium.

“The defense just came out like dogs, and we had to do our thing,” Central Catholic senior linebacker Gavin Jackson said during the Rams’ postgame celebration. “It means a lot. We practiced every day, all week. We trained through the summer, and we were just meant to get here and win.”

“This is insane,” Central Catholic senior defensive lineman Andrew Thenell said. “We’ve been working for this since June, even before the spring season with COVID. This just means the world to us. I love my brothers, and this is just awesome. With the camaraderie, and everything we’ve created, this is just the cherry on top.”

Central Catholic finished the season with a perfect 15-0 record and its second consecutive state championship.

“It means a lot, to win in 2019 and now to come back and win today,” said Central Catholic sophomore defensive back Timmy Mitchell, who returned a fumble for a touchdown in the title tilt. “It was a great season all year.”

And the Central Catholic defense seemed to be a big reason for that.

The Rams gave up an average of 12.8 points per game (not counting a forfeit win) going to Saturday’s championship game.

But that stingy Central Catholic defense looked to be put to the test going up against a talented Tualatin offense.

Entering the championship contest, Tualatin was scoring 41.6 points per game. The Timberwolves took things to an even higher level in the playoffs, scoring 45.8 points per contest in their four postseason victories.

But the Central Catholic defense helped hold Tualatin to a season-low 14 points.

“Holding a team that’s been averaging about 50-plus in the playoffs to just 14 points is insane,” Thenell said. “I’m a transfer from Summit, and they played this team (a 42-13 Tualatin win in the quarterfinals), and they told me it’s going to be a grind, but if we stay together, we’ll be alright, and they were right.”

They certainly were.

The Central Catholic defense, including senior Chibu Enemuo, junior Joe Merlino, junior Solomon McDaniel, Jackson, senior Gibson Coyle, senior Myale Jones, Thenell, Mitchell, senior Emar’rion Winston, senior Solon Sanders, senior Zach Grisham and senior Jordan King, among others, stayed together — and seemed to get stronger as the game went on.

After giving up 14 points to Tualatin in the first half, which ended with the Rams holding a 21-14 lead, Central Catholic shut out the Timberwolves in the second half.

“We were slacking in the first half. We weren’t paying attention, and our eyes were bad. We got in the locker room and said, ‘This team can’t stay with us.’ And we came back out and balled,” Mitchell said. “It was great eyes, great awareness. We practiced all week for this team. We stayed home, read our keys, and just played football.”

Not only did the Central Catholic defense limit Tualatin to 14 points, it also scored two touchdowns.

The first score by the Rams defense came early in the contest. Winston, after scooping up a Tualatin fumble, sprinted 58 yards to the end zone for the first touchdown of the game, giving Central Catholic a 7-0 lead just 1 minute and 56 seconds into the contest.

With Central Catholic leading 14-7, the Rams defense struck again. Tualatin, looking to answer following a touchdown run by Central Catholic senior Ellis Bynum, completed a short pass to the right side. Jackson knocked the ball from the Timberwolves receiver after the catch. The opportunistic Mitchell grabbed the loose ball and ran 27 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown, upping the Rams’ lead to 21-7 with 1:07 remaining in the second quarter.

“It was surprising to me,” Mitchell said of the play. “We were playing our green Cover 2, and our d-end (Jackson) came up and knocked the ball out. I kind of paused for, like, a quick millisecond, and then picked it up and took it in. That felt great.”

“We got those two big scores on defense. That was big for us,” Jackson said. “That gave us some good momentum.”

“Obviously, momentum is a huge thing in football,” Thenell said. “Momentum is amazing, but I think we were just happy to be in that experience together. We were just excited in how that went.”

There was more excitement to come for the Central Catholic defense.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Tualatin, trailing 37-14, faced a fourth-and-2 on the Central Catholic 39-yard line. The Timberwolves, looking to keep their hopes alive, decided to go for the first down. Tualatin standout running back Malik Ross took a direct snap and took off. He was quickly stopped by Thenell for a 1-yard loss.

“We knew they’d come out in a Wildcat, power-run type of play,” Thenell said. “We’ve been reading our keys all year, and the thing about that, Emar’rion was kind of on my side, and we knew he (Ross) wasn’t going to bounce outside. So, we stopped him, and we just kind of took all the energy away from their fans. That felt amazing. It was probably my favorite play of my career.”

Five plays after the defensive stand, Central Catholic got a 4-yard touchdown run by senior Jacob Hardeman, pushing the lead to 44-14.

The Rams defense would get an interception by King later in the fourth quarter. Soon after, Central Catholic was celebrating a state championship — and a statement-making performance by its defense.

“We’ve been saying that we want to be the best defense in Central Catholic history, and the best defense in the state, which I think we are,” Thenell said. “I 100-percent think we proved that today.”

“I think we’re the best defense in the state, and one of the best defenses that Central has ever had,” Jackson said.

“This says we have a great defense,” Mitchell said. “We came together as a team, did everything that we needed to do.”

One of the reasons for that solid Central Catholic defense — the coaches.

“It’s the person in the box, (Central Catholic defensive coordinator) Matt Jones,” Jackson said. “He’s a demon.”

“That’s something we’ve always preached,” Thenell said. “Coach Jones and my defensive line coach, Sean Rogers, they always preach that we can go out there and run around like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off, but if we have effort, we’re going to win. We showed the love we have for each other with that effort. We play for each other, and I’m so proud of us.”

Mitchell and Jackson were in on eight total tackles each, with Mitchell having seven solo tackles. Enemuo, Winston, Thenell and Sanders were in on six tackles apiece. Grisham and Merlino had five tackles each. Mitchell had three pass breakups to go with his eight tackles and fumble return for a touchdown.

Mitchell, Winston and Thenell each had a tackle for loss. Merlino had three quarterback hits.

“This was very fun,” Mitchell said with a smile. “We’ve been talking about this, going to the championship undefeated, and that’s what we did.”

Box score

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Preview links:

Tale of the tape: Who has the edge between Central Catholic and Tualatin in the Oregon 6A football final?

Best Friends Bowl: Longtime pals Gavin Jackson of Central Catholic and Malik Ross of Tualatin end their prep careers by going head-to-head for ultimate bragging rights

Watch: Central Catholic coach Steve Pyne discusses Rams’ season, upcoming title game with Tualatin

Watch: Tualatin coach Dan Lever discusses Timberwolves’ season, upcoming title game with Central Catholic

Who will win the 6A football final between Central Catholic and Tualatin? Our predictions …

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More on Central Catholic:

Central Catholic again the favorite in 6A Oregon football? Attitude, work ethic will tell the story for deep, talented Rams

‘It was Stryder’s night tonight.’ In surprisingly sloppy game between Oregon and Washington champions, Stryder Todd-Fields’ big plays lift Central Catholic over Camas

Clackamas, Central Catholic square off in bid for Mt. Hood summit

No. 1 Central Catholic 38, No. 5 Clackamas 20: Riley Williams, Rams erase any doubts as national audience watches Mt. Hood title bout

Impending Oregon Ducks career far from Emar’rion Winston’s mind as he prepares to lead Central Catholic defense in Holy War 6A semifinal

Central Catholic fights off Jesuit in Holy War semifinal, will face Tualatin for shot at 2nd consecutive 6A title

Central Catholic calls on ‘Independent Contractors’ to help secure victory against Jesuit and ‘The Franchise’

From a 5-foot-2, 100-pound JV2 soccer player to the 6A football final — it’s been quite a journey for Central Catholic’s Asher Wajskol

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More on Tualatin:

Is Tualatin in store for the best football season in school history? ‘The sky’s the limit’

Tualatin survives epic battle with 5A Silverton — and learns a valuable lesson: ‘When we go 80 percent in practice … it matters’

‘You hold your breath every time he touches the ball.’ Malik ‘Magic’ Ross shines in all 3 phases for top-ranked Tualatin football team

‘There’s nothing we can’t do.’ Tualatin football earns signature victory with blowout of longtime nemesis West Linn

For Cole Prusia and Tualatin, Saturday’s rout of West Linn started with a crushing defeat 7 months earlier

‘Electric, electric, electric.’ Malik Ross scores 5 of his school-record 6 TDs in 2nd quarter as Tualatin leaves Westview in the dust

Tualatin defense silences West Linn again; Timberwolves 1 win from 1st state title in program history

‘They’re the beating heart of the team.’ Tualatin has no shortage of stars, but it’s the offensive line that makes the offense go

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