Ralston Rams ready to roll

From: McCook Gazette, Nebraska
Nov. 22, 2002

Is there a way to stop McCook?

Diane Stamm, Gazette Sports Writer

RALSTON — The question has been chewed over by Ralston coach Tyler Zahn since the Ram’s 21-20 overtime win against Omaha Gross last week.

McCook is so talented and so deep that a team can’t stop one aspect and expect to win, said Zahn. But, he added, his team is looking forward to the challenge.

After a 6-3 regular season and a wild card bid into the playoffs, Ralston has ripped off three straight wins, including two wins over teams the Rams had lost to during the regular season, leading up to its face-off Saturday against McCook,.

Ralston looks to Dan Walker to stymie the Bison. The middle linebacker leads the team with 57 unassisted tackles and 71 assisted. Walker may be a tough player but he has had a tough season. The senior suffered a high ankle sprain that slowed him for three games in the middle of the season and then injured a rib which caused him to miss the Rams’ week eight battle against Gretna.

Zahn said Walker is healthy heading into the game at Memorial Stadium.

Fellow linebacker Kyle Bowman has statistics much like Walker. The senior led the team with 13 tackles for a loss. Bowman has totaled 55 unassisted tackles, 71 assisted tackles and two sacks. “Kyle is our smartest defender,” Zahn said. “He has a knack for being in the right place at the right time.”

Another senior, nose guard Andrew Garza has plugged the middle all season long for the Rams.

Garza’s “explosiveness” had helped him accumulate 38 unassisted tackles and 57 assisted tackles. Five tackles have been for a loss and he tied for a team high with three sacks.

Though not a statistical leader, the team can look to senior Eric Moses for inspiration.

Moses was born deaf. Communicating by reading lips and using an interpreter, Moses had been a special team standout for the Rams, blocking a punt and returning another blocked punt for a touchdown.

The senior defensive end has started the past five games, accumulating 14 unassisted tackles and a sack through the season.

“There’s no problem with the other kids,” Moses said in a recent interview with the Omaha World-Herald.

“I have really great teammates and I’ve made some good friends. I think we all enjoy working together.” The Rams have been led offensively all season long by Jade McCawley. He leads the team in rushing, averaging 106 yards per game.

McCawley also adds to his offensive total with 158 yards receiving (eight catches, 19.8 average) and has had six punt returns for a 12 yard average.

Zahn said McCawley has been the team’s go-to guy and has worked hard all season long.

After an 0-2 start last year, Jacob Chandler, then a sophomore, stepped up into the starting quarterback role and led the team to a playoff berth.

As a junior this year, Zahn said Chandler has matured.

The QB ranks second on the team with 71.8 yards per game rushing. Chandler has scored five touchdowns rushing and thrown 13 touchdown passes.

Seniors receivers John Klinker and Jack Critchfield have been favorite targets for Chandler all season.

Klinker, at 6-foot-4, four has posed match up problems for teams all year, said Zahn.

Klinker has caught 13 passes for 263 yards. He ranks first on the team with 21.9 receiving yards per game and 20.2 yards per catch.

Critchfield has caught 18 passes for 129 yards heading into the state championship game.

Critchfield is coming off a big game against Gross when he caught the game winning touchdown in overtime.

With a 19.8 yard average per catch, Zahn said Critchfield has come on at the end of the season.

Ralston (9-3)

Wk 1 Omaha Roncalli Catholic 24 - 20

Wk 2 Omaha Bryan 20 - 6

Wk 3 South Sioux City 26 - 7

Wk 4 Beatrice 16 - 3

Wk 5 Omaha Gross 0 - 20

Wk 6 Plattsmouth 21 - 22

Wk 7 Omaha Skutt Catholic 33 - 7

Wk 8 Gretna 17 - 21

Wk 9 Platteview 54 - 6

Playoffs

First Round Gretna 14-3

Quarterfinals Waverly 28-7

Semi Finals Omaha Gross 21-20 ot

TEAM Ralston Opponent

Net rushing 2688 1462

Passing 76/149 1095 100/239 1228

Punting ave. 33.1

Total Offense 3783 2690

Rush yards /game 224 121.8

Pass yards /game 91.3 102.3

Total offense /game315.3 224.2

TEAM LEADERS

Rushing

# Name att. net TD per att. per game

2 Jade McCawley 207 1272 10 6.1 106

10 Jacob Chandler 172 861 5 5.0 71.8

48 Dan Walker 66 306 2 4.6 25.5

Passing

# Name comp. att. net TD per comp. per game INT

10 Jacob Chandler 70 139 993 13 14.2 82.8 8

7 Mike Nihsen 4 8 92 2 23 7.7

Receivers

# Name rec. yards TD per rec. per game

2 Jade McCawley 8 158 1 19.8 13.2

21 John Klinker 13 263 7 20.2 21.9

87 Keith Robertson 10 198 2 19.8 16.5

3 Jack Critchfield 18 129 1 7.2 10.8

28 Eric Maresh 15 276 3 18.4 23.0

Punt

# Name punts yards ave.

21 John Klinker 42 1392 33.1

Punt Returns

# Name ret. yards ave.

28 Eric Maresh 10 63 6.3

2 Jade McCawley 6 72 12.0

Tackles

# Name UA A for loss sack points

17 Kyle Bowman 55 71 13 5 181

48 Dan Walker 57 71 0 0 185

55 Andrew Garza 38 57 5 3 133

70 Mike Huff 26 46 4 3 98

76 Zach Monono 28 31 7 0 87

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