Bishop Miege puts on offensive display in Class 4A title win

Saturday November 28, 2009 1:00 PM
Team (Record)	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Total
Hayden	0	0	6	0	6
Bishop Miege (12 - 2)	7	14	7	0	28

SALINA, Kan. | The most important statistic from Bishop Miege’s 28-6 victory over Topeka Hayden in the Class 4A state title game may seem ordinary, but it essentially changed the complexion of the game.

Justin McCay, the Stags’ standout wide receiver who has orally committed to Oklahoma, touched the ball only four times for 45 yards and no touchdowns, mostly because the Wildcats often double- or triple-teamed him.

But by doing that, Hayden opened up a Miege offense that showed creativity, diversity and explosiveness in finding its other weapons.

Whether it was using running back Bobby Germinder (138 yards on 32 carries) on sweeps and tosses in the running game, or play action and pump fakes in the passing game (quarterback Max Shortell threw for 332 yards and four touchdowns), the Stags rolled up 488 yards and made quick work of the defending champions Saturday at Salina District Stadium.

“Our seniors came into this program with me, and we have put in a lot of work to get this thing to where it is now,” Bishop Miege coach Tim Grunhard said. “I’m still in shock.

“It’s been 32 years since we have won a state championship, and it takes some luck and a little bit of talent to win. But most importantly, it takes a lot of love, and we had all three of those things this year.”

The Stags tried to find ways to utilize McCay — he was used at flanker, tight end, fullback and kick returner — but Hayden usually had either a linebacker or a safety, along with a cornerback, lined up with him at the line of scrimmage to bump him off his routes.

McCay ended up being a decoy of sorts, but the Stags had that prepared in their game plan.

“Coach told all of us before the game that Justin was going to be double-teamed,” wide receiver Trevor Releford said. “He also said that the rest of us would have to step our game up.”

And they did.

Releford had two catches for 126 yards. Tight end Jamie Kostelac caught two balls for 91 yards, and receiver Seamus Martin had 84 yards on three catches.

“It becomes almost impossible to defend them,” Topeka Hayden coach Bill Arnold said. “We tried to bring blitzes, but their offensive line is so good, that didn’t work, either.”

What was perhaps the most impressive part of Miege’s offense was how few plays it took for it to score. The Stags’ first drive was three plays, 78 yards — Releford’s 78-yard TD catch from Shortell.

Miege’s third series went 94 yards in three plays, with Kostelac making a remarkable one-handed catch and running it in from 86 yards.

On their final scoring drive, the Stags needed only one play, but it was Shortell’s 62-yard pass to Martin, who much like Kostelac, made a bobbling one-handed grab, then ran into the end zone.

“It’s always nice to execute those big plays when you are in a state championship game,” Shortell said.

submitted by MATT BROWNING - 2009-11-28 21:42:01

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