Centerville nears unprecedented heights

By KELLY TERPSTRA, Courier sports writer

OTTUMWA — Runnin’ downhill, on the loose, with chunks of yards flying up underneath his cleats.

That’s Tanner Susin’s sturdy style.

Wide-open spaces – that’s the kind of room the Clear Creek-Amana Clippers’ passing game loves to navigate in.

Two teams, two different philosophies — and one heck of a rematch.

Susin and the Centerville Big Red football team is on the cusp of history and in the process — rewriting the record books.

The Big Reds and head coach Jim Knott will hook up with CC-A in Appanoose County tonight and have a chance to climb one step closer to statewide superiority.

The first round playoff game has all sorts of storylines and statistical successes. The hyped contest features the ultimate in contrasting styles and is a rematch from last year’s substate game, a contest Centerville won, 30-16.

Centerville (10-0) features Susin, the six-foot, 220-pound load of a back. The senior is the school-record holder for single-season rushing yards (1,678 yards) and touchdowns (31). He also holds the school’s best marks for career yards (3,158) and TDs (54).

Susin – a big, strong, bowling ball of a back – is more than just a bruiser.

“People say he’s not a burner, but I’ve never seen him get caught from behind,” said Knott.

Susin scored three times and rushed for 150 yards on just 14 carries in Centerville’s 40-8 substate victory last week over Washington. Yards after contact are one of Susin’s strengths.

“He’s a special back, you don’t have to watch much football to know that,” said Knott.

The Clippers lead the state in passing (3,199 yards) and will rely on dual-threat quarterback Blaze Smith to get the ball to Ted Hergert. Hergert leads the state in receiving with 1,450 yards. His stat line reads 68 catches, 16 TDs and a 21.3 yard-per-catch average.

Smith, a senior, missed three games because of an ankle injury but has returned to his stellar form. He threw for 424 yards in CCA’s 38-3 beatdown of Carlisle to advance to this round. Smith has thrown for 2,011 yards with 13 TDs and nine picks.

Smith holds the state record for completions in a contest. That number is 43, an eye-popping stat that Smith did against Vinton-Shellsburg earlier this season. He’s also the team’s leading rusher (325 yards) and has found the end zone 11 times.

Smith’s replacement when injured was fellow senior Kevin Delzell, who threw for 484 yards and six TDs against Fort Madison in 2009. Those passing yards are the seventh-best total in state history.

“There is no doubt they are going to make plays and they’ll have passing yards,” said Knott. “We can’t let short passes turn into big plays.”

Clear Creek (7-3) puts the ball in the air around 37 times a game. The Clippers’ losses have come at the hands of fifth-ranked Iowa City Regina (2A) 14-7, Mount Pleasant 28-14 and seventh-ranked Williamsburg 48-7.

Williamsburg (8-2) was knocked out in the first round courtesy of last year’s Class 3A state semifinalist Pella, 31-24. Centerville defeated Pella (7-3) in a Class 3A, District 6 overtime shootout 44-43.

Centerville, ranked fourth, has been untouched this season and did it in arguably the toughest district in all of 3A.

Centerville, should they get past the Clippers, will take on the winner between eighth-ranked Grinnell (9-1) and Pella. Grinnell is also in Centerville’s district. The Tigers were dropped by the Big Reds 29-21. Grinnell defeated Pella 14-3.

A Centerville win tonight breaks the school record for wins. Centerville hasn’t been 10-0 in a season since 1935.

“As the week went on, each game was bigger. We have got bigger goals,” said Knott, in his 10th season at CHS.

This is only the Big Reds third playoff appearance all-time, where they sport an 0-2 record. Centerville lost to Mount Pleasant 34-21 in the opening round of the 2008 playoffs. The Big Reds also qualified for state in 1984.

Centerville will try to control the clock to keep the Clippers’ potent offense off the field. Susin ran for 173 yards last year versus CC-A and scored three times.

Centerville is a lot more than just Susin.

Several other Big Red stars — all seniors — will have a big hand in the Centerville’s dream of playing on the carpet at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

Centerville is led by signal-caller Tyler Gray. Gray has rushed for 411 yards and thrown for 804.

Big Red fullback Ethan Moorman has popped off 718 yards on the ground with eight scores. He has registered 92 tackles, nine of them for losses.

Jordan McCoy is Gray’s favorite target through the air. He’s amassed 308 yards receiving and six touchdowns. He leads team in interceptions (5).

Mike England is CHS’ leading tackler with 108. He has 11 tackles for loss. Susin has 87 stops and leads the team in tackles for loss with 19. Blake McPherren (89 tackles) and Thaler Carter (11 TFL) are other Big Red standouts on defense.

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