Dragons rout banged-up Cats after spark from special teams

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By MATT KING

mking@dailyjournalonline.com

FREDERICKTOWN – Perhaps the Ste. Genevieve football team still harbored some dejection from its first loss of the season when returning to action Friday night.

The Dragons were forced to regain focus after Fredericktown stifled their first two possessions in a hurry, and found a spark from their talented defensive linemen.

Madden Wolk blocked a punt after fellow senior end Paul Taylor increased his team-high sack total to six in the first quarter, and later sniffed out a fake from deep in positive territory.

Justin Slinkard turned all three of his receptions from quarterback Luke Ferranto into touchdowns, and Ste. Genevieve prevailed 56-13 in the MAFC White division finale.

Only two first downs were obtained by the struggling Blackcats – both on 15-yard penalties – spanning the first five drives of their Homecoming game.

Caleb Feltz secured two touchdowns for a Fredericktown receiving corps that lost Tucker Reutzel to a broken ankle last week and tight end Cayden Crump to a knee injury in the third quarter.

The Dragons amassed 100 yards in flags, but capitalized on a pivotal turnover when Mason Trollinger covered a muffed punt in prime field position at the 33.

Cameron Vogt picked up 10 yards before Ferranto flipped an 8-yard scoring pass to Slinkard. Ferranto was unofficially 9-of-12 overall for 158 yards and four touchdowns.

Ste. Genevieve (6-1, 3-1) defenders were called for targeting and pass interference on the next series, but Wolk broke through for another special teams highlight on special teams.

Fredericktown (0-7, 0-4) obtained another stop after pressure by Mason Proffer coaxed intentional grounding, and Maddox Knepper made a backfield tackle on the following defensive series.

But an excellent throw to Owen Roth gained 41 yards down the right side, and Ferranto zipped an 11-yard strike to Slinkard before running in the 2-point conversion for a 14-0 lead.

The Blackcats could not generate a sustained rushing attack until quarterback Blake Terry-Breakfield began to improvise. Starting tailback Zac Botbyl was dropped four times for losses.

Wolk tackled Proffer on a surprising direct snap out of punt formation, and Ferranto connected with Eli Bennett for a 27-yard touchdown on the ensuing snap with 9:06 remaining in the second quarter.

Terry-Breakfield then ignited the first Fredericktown scoring march by rolling out to find Derek Irby for 13 yards on a fourth-and-8 pass.

The QB burst through the middle on a 26-yard keeper moments later, and delivered a 19-yard scoring throw on target to Feltz just beyond the right pylon.

Ferranto guided a confident response before halftime. His quick throw to Bennett picked up 13 yards on third-and-12 after Justin Schweigert rumbled for 20 across midfield.

Vogt powered ahead for 18 more yards, then scored from the 3 to restore a 27-7 lead for the Dragons with 52 seconds to play.

Terry-Breakfield helped the Blackcats threaten again before time expired on runs of 26 and 11 yards. Wyatt Grein broke up a pass at the goal line, and Ferranto easily picked a hopeful heave.

Roth extended the Ste. Genevieve lead on a 48-yard scamper early in the third quarter, and notched a team-high 64 yards on five carries.

Jacob Warren followed with a sack on the next series, and Slinkard invoked a turbo clock at 42-7 with his 9-yard scoring grab after a turnover on downs.

Feltz had a game-high 85 yards on four receptions, and pinned an 11-yard throw against his shoulder while leaping to shield a defender on his second TD.

Offsetting penalties negated an interception by Proffer moments later, and Ferranto went 19 yards on his fourth carry of the night for a 49-13 separation with 2:37 left in the period.

Bennett provided three catches for 57 yards, and Grein chipped in two receptions for 40. Maddox Sutton added a 12-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.

Jessy Schilly was 3-for-4 passing in a back-up role, including two passes to Tyler Sherry during the final scoring drive.

Kanon Pinkley registered a late sack, and Warren blocked an extra point for Ste. Genevieve, which has its Homecoming against Jefferson in week 8. Drake Meyer had two tackles for loss.

Terry-Breakfield finished 10-of-27 for a 117 yards, and added 72 yards on the ground. Irby matched Feltz with four receptions, and Hunter Royer executed a backfield tackle in the first quarter.

Fredericktown continues a three-game homestand to conclude the regular season against Windsor, which was manhandled 36-0 by North County on Friday.