Keiron Bailey in the backfield has run the ball really well and Evan Unruh’s running ability has been important to us as well. “I think we’ve done a really good job of running the ball and being physical, and throwing the ball” Palte said. Keiron Bailey is the bruiser coming out of the backfield and has shown he can carry the heavy load when called upon. The T-Birds feature a host of solid receivers to throw the ball to with Travis Hoyles, Billy Bourk, Carson Parker and Quintel Peoples. Unruh is just one of a number of weapons in the T-Birds’ offensive arsenal. “He has been a really, really good leader for us by helping guys get in the right spot and getting us lined up and has really played with a lot of poise.” Palte added that Unruh really has gotten a grasp of the offense and provides the leadership necessary both on and off the field. On the ground, The T-Bird signal caller has rushed for nearly 600 yards and ran for nine scores. He has thrown for more than 600 yards and 14 touchdowns and is coming off the Worthington Christian game where he tossed six touchdowns. In his six games, he shown he can run and pass the ball with effectiveness. Senior quarterback Evan Unruh has elevated his efforts both on and off the field this year. He said in week one the team came out with a “deer in the headlights” feel because they had to relied on individuals such as Shaun Thomas and Rossy Moore, along with other 4-year starters and seniors to carry them, but Palte added that since that defeat have embraced that this is their team and they are the seniors now and they have to take on that role now. Palte added the players showed resiliency in shaking off the opening week loss to Shawnee and understood that it was a long season and they wanted to be playing in week 11 by the end of it. They are a good physical team and we came up short but we made it a point of working on things to get better at and as the weeks have gone on we have settled into our roles and our identity on offense and defense and we just wanted to get better each week.” “I think we have improved each week since week one,” Palte said. LCC has outscored its last two opponents 110-5. In the team’s winning streak, the Thunderbirds have averaged 45.8 points a contest and are giving up an average of 11.8 points a contest. Since opening the season with a loss against Shawnee, 20-13, LCC has won five consecutive games and are coming off a big victory over Worthington Christian 50-3 last Friday. It is a motivating factor more than anything.” They want to get back to that point and maybe have a different result. “I think each class wants to match the class before them or exceed it and I think that is what our seniors want to do. “I don’t think they (the team) feel any pressure. “I think when you set a standard and get that close to the state championship game it is a motivating factor,” LCC head coach Scott Palte said. The Thunderbirds, who came up one-point and one-yard short last year in the state semifinals against New Bremen, are looking to make it back to that point and go one step beyond that and earn a berth in the state championships. Lima Central Catholic is playing like a team on a mission and that is because they are.
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