Valle Catholic wins I-55 again with 24-6 victory over St. Pius

Oct 25, 2019 @ 11:50pm

The Valle Catholic Warriors are once again I-55 Football Conference champions after defeating the St. Pius Lancers 24-6 Friday evening as heard on the MyMoInfo SportsStream.

Neither side scored in the first 12 minutes, with the teams trading interceptions after St. Pius went three-and-out to start the game.

The Lancers held on fourth and goal to deny the Warriors once, but early in the second quarter, Valle senior quarterback Chase Dunlap aired it out for the Serenity Hospice Care Play of the Game.

Warriors led 7-0 after the PAT. After forcing a punt, Valle Catholic added to that lead later in the quarter, with Dunlap finding the end zone on the ground this time.

14-0 after the extra point. St. Pius had to punt once more, and with just 40 seconds left in the half, Valle made it 3 straight scoring drives.

The Warriors took a 21-0 lead into half-time.

St. Pius started the third quarter strong, getting a stop on defense and finally finding the scoreboard.

But that would be all the scoring that the Lancers could muster, as Valle put the game away with a long 12-play drive that worked its way into the fourth quarter.

Kolten Naeger capped it with a kick.

Time ran out not long after that as the Warriors won their seventh straight conference championship.

Head coach Judd Naeger praised his team’s stout defensive effort.

In addition to 2 passing touchdowns, Dunlap was a workhorse running the ball with 31 carries and 128 yards.

The Applebee’s Player of the Game said it was great to back with his teammates after missing time earlier this season with an injury.

Lancers head coach Dan Oliver said his team missed too many chances to extend their 7-game winning streak.

St. Pius falls to 7-2 while Valle Catholic improves to 8-1.

The Lancers are the number-three seed in Class 2 District 1 and will host Jefferson in a cross-town battle next week.

The Warriors hangs on the to the top seed in Class 1 District 1 and will host Crystal City in the first round of the district playoffs.