Kellenberg can't stop powerful Stepinac in AA final

Archbishop Stepinac defeated Kellenberg, 41-7, behind an offensive onslaught and a defense that allowed the Firebirds to get no closer than the 26-yard line until late in the fourth quarter, Saturday afternoon at the CHSFL Class AA final at Mitchel Athletic Complex.

The fifth-seeded Crusaders (11-0) led 28-0 at the half and were aided by five Kellenberg fumbles, two of which they recovered. Linebacker Brian Byrnes recovered a fumble at his own 26-yard line and returned it 73 yards, to the Kellenberg 1, after Austin Taps jarred the ball loose on Nick Fiore's QB-keep. Lance Ladson ran it in on the next play to give Stepinac the 41-0 advantage, its biggest lead of the game. Kellenber, seeded second, finishes the season 5-6.

"We just ran into a buzzsaw," Firebird coach Kevin Hanifan said. "They're a very good football team. They pushed us around. When you're playing a championship game against a 10-0 team, you can't afford to make mistakes."