Centauri football’s first win over Strasburg in four years

PUEBLO — The Centauri High School football team ended a 4-year drought with the Strasburg Indians on Friday night at CSU-Pueblo beating them 48-3. It was a big win for the Falcons as they remain perfect in non-league play, 4-0.

The Falcons are ranked second in Class 1A and have scored at least 45 points in their last three games. CHS is averaging 42 points per game and holding opponents to 7.5 points per game.

The game started as a defensive battle as neither team could move the ball. Centauri got its offense going on a 15-yard run by Mason Claunch. Zach Buhr ran for 5 yards, and then it was senior quarterback Byron Shawcroft to sophomore running back Devin Brady from 31 yards out for a touchdown. Sophomore Kaleb Anderson kicked the point-after for a 7-0 lead with 7 minutes and 12 seconds to play in the first quarter.

Centauri got the ball back and moved it down to the 16-yard line. Shawcroft found Brady all alone in the end zone and Brady made an awesome one-handed catch for his second TD grab of the night. Another Anderson kick made it 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Strasburg (1-3) got on the scoreboard in the second quarter with a 37-yard field goal.

The Falcons answered with a 37-yard TD run by Claunch. Anderson made it 21-3 with 6:09 remaining in the first half.

The Falcons' defense once again held, forcing the Indians to punt. Claunch returned it 22 yards. A 25-yard pass from Shawcroft to senior wideout Baron Holman put the Falcons at the Strasburg 12-yard line. Shawcroft connected with Holman on a 10-yard score and the Falcons went into the break with a 28-3 lead.

The second half started with neither team gaining any momentum. A quick kick by Strasburg pinned the Falcons deep in their territory.

On his 9-yard line, Claunch started to his right then reversed direction and scampered 91 yards for another Falcons' score and a 35-3 lead.

The defense got a pick-six from Coby Thomas, who ran it back 56 yards for the TD. Anderson's PAT was blocked. The third quarter ended with the Falcons leading 41-3.

In the final quarter, the Falcons moved the ball deep into Strasburg territory. Shawcroft found Peyton Polzin from 7 yards out for the final score and a 48-3 lead.

Claunch finished with a season-high 200 yards on 15 carries as the Falcons racked up 280 rushing yards. The returning all-state selection has rushed for over 500 yards and scored 12 total TDs, including 10 rushing.

Brady had five catches for 60 yards on the night to go with two carries for 49 yards.

Shawcroft was a nearly perfect 8-of-9 passing for 107 yards and four TDs.

The Falcons defense held the Indians to 53 passing yards and 78 rushing yards.

Centauri will be on the road this week as they travel to Bayfield (2-1) to complete the non-league schedule. The game has been moved from Friday night to Saturday afternoon due to a lack of officials. The kickoff is 3 p.m.