By Richard Polen
Globe Sports Writer
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Girard, unbeaten against CNC League opponents, takes on Galena at 7 p.m. today with a share of the league lead at stake.
Girard, 4-1 overall, is coming off a 29-0 victory over St. Mary’s-Colgan. It was the first time Colgan has been shut out since a 20-0 loss at Olpe in the 2008 Class 2-1A semifinals.
“(Girard is) just fundamentally sound,” said Galena head coach Beau Sarwinski. “They don’t put themselves in positions to make mistakes. They’re a quick, solid defense.”
Galena was limited to 179 yards rushing in a 19-16 loss last week at Columbus. Junior quarterback Nick Sievert completed 4 of 9 passes for 65 yards, one of them a 34-yard touchdown strike to Tyler VanCleave, who circled out of the backfield and scored with 34 seconds left in the first half.
The loss dropped Galena to 4-1 overall and into a tie for second place with 3-1 Southeast in the CNC standings.
Girard is led by running back Anthony Scholes, a 6-foot, 180-pound senior who rushed for two touchdowns against Colgan.
“I think it’s going to come down to the details of the game,” Sarwinski said. “This game is going to be a battle in the trenches. The offensive and defensive lines, it’s going to be a battle there.
“It’s going to be a fun, playoff-type atmosphere with a lot of CNC title implications,” he said. “We’re excited about the opportunity to play. It should be fun.”
The game will be Galena’s last tuneup before its three district opponents — Colgan and Southeast at home followed by Riverton on the road. Columbus and Colgan, both 2-2 in the league, meet tonight in Colgan’s homecoming game.
In other games tonight involving CNC teams, Riverton plays host to Parsons for a nonleague game, Baxter Springs plays at Frontenac and Southeast plays at Erie.
