ANDREW SALMI andrew.salmi@granitemedi-apartners. com
DECATUR — The St.
Mary’s Catholic School varsity football team had its 2023 season come to an end Friday night as the Rams were defeated 72-6 at the hands of Victory Christian Academy.
Although they were eliminated in the first round of the TCAF playoffs, the Rams under head coach Rick Cobia made the playoffs for the second straight yet following a long hiatus and returning to the football field for the school in 2021.
The Rams were led by junior running back Tyler Zimmerhanzel, who returned from missing three straight games due to injury for St.
Mary’s previous game Oct. 20, in which the Rams rolled over Grace Academy 62-28. In five games this season, Zimmerhanzel rushed for a team-high 559 yards on 72 carries for 11 touchdowns on the ground.
The Rams also got production from junior running back Ethan Lively with 479 yards and 11 touchdowns, while sophomore Steven Reyes rushed for 366 yards and five touchdowns of his own.
Entering the postseason, St. Mary’s junior quarterback Kolbe Barta had completed 38-of-88 passes thrown for 739 yards, but 14 of those passes were thrown for touchdowns. Senior tight end Brady Altman was Barta’s favorite target this year as the senior hauled in 22 receptions for 408 yards and eight touchdown catches in the regular season.
