“It’s one for the ages”: Seton Catholic captures first Trico League title in football

LA CENTER — Whether it’s the mudslides, mud angels postgame or the mud-stained uniforms, a natural-grass field on a rain-soaked night never felt this good — or memorable — for the Seton Catholic Cougars. 

“We love it — these are the best games,” senior linebacker Aeven Napolean said. … “this one, we really had to dig deep and find our true selves.”

Digging deep meant making history, too. What visiting Seton Catholic did Friday — earning a 29-21 victory over La Center at a rain-soaked La Center Community Stadium — is something no other Trico League team had done in the previous 30 games going back to the 2018 season: defeat the Wildcats. 

And, it also did something no prior Seton football team had done in the program’s young history: win a league title. 

Four-year varsity standout Joe Callerame has seen it all during his tenure at Seton. That’s why he took extra time to soak in the memories made Friday night.  

“This is one for the ages,” said Callerame, who had three rushing touchdowns Friday. “I’ll definitely remember this one for the rest of my life.”

In one of the state’s premiere games featuring a pair of two top 3-ranked teams, both teams’ fan bases packed La Center Community Stadium for the much-anticipated matchup. Going into the week, longtime La Center coach John Lambert said the game was the biggest to ever be hosted at La Center in terms of what’s at stake. 

First, a league title against two undefeated teams ranked in the top-3 of the Class 1A state rankings. But second is the statewide impact of the game. The Class 1A football state playoff field will only be 12 teams for the next two seasons after a number of 1A schools statewide did not field varsity football teams this fall. That means the top four seeds for the 1A state playoffs after next week’s Week 10 state preliminary round are awarded byes straight to the quarterfinals. 

And Friday’s game is expected to go a long way in determining who earns a top-4 seeds. 

Callerame had rushing touchdowns of 6, 30 and 35 yards and a pair of second-half interceptions as one of the all-over-the-plate playmakers Friday night. The Army commit’s 35-yard touchdown run to close out the third quarter capped 29 consecutive Seton Catholic points and his game-clinching interception with 2:19 to play on La Center’s final possession jumpstarted the Seton celebration. Four plays later and after three straight run plays, Kolten Gesser’s kneel-down sealed it. 

However, the way Seton (9-0 overall, 7-0 Trico) finished the game was far-opposite of how it began. It was La Center (8-1, 6-1) that jumped out to a 14-0 lead at the 7:10 mark of the first quarter — all before the Cougars took an offensive snap. Houston Coyle took the opening kickoff back 90 yards, then La Center successfully recovered an onside kick and marched eight plays to the endzone. 

Panic? Not the Cougars. They credit their resiliency that willed their comeback ways. To date, that 14-0 deficit was Seton’s largest of this season. Callerame was proud of the team’s poise and how their character was on full display despite the early hole. 

“When we go out on that field, we trust the guy next to us,” he said. “And we know he’s going to make the play. And when you know that, you’re going to get it done.”

Seton Catholic had all the momentum at halftime leading 22-14 with consecutive touchdown-scoring drives (Callerame’s 6-yard run, Ryker Ruelas’ 32-yard reception) and a defensive performance limiting La Center’s run game to end the first half. The teams combined for four turnovers in the third quarter before Callerame’s back-to-back big plays. First came an interception of Wyatt Eiesland, La Center’s quarterback, then on the ensuing Seton possession came his 35-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to two scores in the closing seconds of the third quarter. 

La Center marched 60 yards and converted a fourth-and-5 on its way to Eiesland’s 3-yard rushing touchdown to pull within 29-21 with 6:52 to go. It got the ball back at its own 36 with 3:16 to play before Callerame’s second interception. In all, the Cougars had four takeaways. 

Lambert, in his 25th year as the Wildcats’ coach, pointed to a number of critical errors he said his team normally doesn’t make. 

“But that’s what happens when you play a good football team,” the coach said. … “I know our guys would love another shot at them. I’m confident our kids will learn from this because that’s how you get better.”

A league title in football, and defeating a program that’s won the previous five straight and 11 of the past 13 is another notch on a Seton program that continues to climb. Last season’s run to the state semifinals put the Cougars on the Class 1A map after the program had some lean years after launching football in 2012. 

Friday is all just part of the 2024 path, senior Garrett Nebels said. 

“It’s a stepping stone,” he said, “You build on every game and you build one very play. It’s just part of the journey.”

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SETON CATHOLIC 29, LA CENTER 21

Seton 7 15 7 0 – 29

LC 14 0 0 7 – 21

First quarter

LC – Houston Coyle 90 kickoff return (Nate Rembisz kick)

LC – Eiesland 4 run (Rembisz kick)

SC – Joe Callerame 30 run (Dalton Woods kick)

Second quarter

SC – Safety (La Center fumble recovery in end zone)

SC – Callerame 6 run (Woods kick)

SC – Ryker Ruelas 32 pass from Kolten Gesser (run failed)

Third quarter

SC – Callerame 35 run (Woods kick)

Fourth quarter

LC – Eiesland 3 run (Rembisz kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing — Seton Catholic: Jacob Williams 15-28, Joe Callerame 16-100, Ryker Ruelas 1-(minus-7); La Center: Isaac Chromey 16-94, Wyatt Eiesland 15-23, Houston Coyle 1-4, Gaven Emerson 1-2.

Passing — Seton Catholic: Kolten Gesser 9-15-1-95; La Center: Houston Coyle 1-2-0-5, Wyatt Eiesland 4-12-3-17. 

Receiving — Seton Catholic: Ryker Ruelas 2-37, Jacob Williams 1-11, Joe Callerame 4-21, Xavier Crank 1-22, Teddy Wieczorek 1-4 ; La Center: Isaac Chromey 3-11, Parker McKinney 3-11.