Central Catholic routs Woodland Hills in Ryan Lehmeier’s debut as Vikings coach
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Saturday, August 26, 2023 | 12:31 AM
Central Catholic’s Vernon Settles scores during the third quarter against Woodland Hills on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
Central Catholic quarterback Payton Wehner kneels on the sideline before the start of a game against Woodland Hills on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
Central Catholic quarterback Payton Wehner and receiver Pete Gonzalez talk with head coach Ryan Lehmeier during their game against Woodland Hills on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
Central Catholic quarterback Payton Wehner throws a touchdown pass to Vernon Settles during the third quarter against Woodland Hills on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
Central Catholic head coach Ryan Lehmeier talks with his offense during their game against Woodland Hills on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
Central Catholic quarterback Payton Wehner smiles on the sideline after throwing his fourth touchdown pass against Woodland Hills on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
Central Catholic’s Anthony Speca sacks Woodland Hills quarterback Cam Walter during the first half on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
Central Catholic’s Peter Gonzalez scores during the first quarter against Woodland Hills on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
Central Catholic’s Elijah Faulkner scores during the first quarter against Woodland Hills on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
Central Catholic’s Peter Gonzalez celebrates with Elijah Faulkner after scoring against Woodland Hills on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
Central Catholic’s Colsen Gatten scores on a two-point conversion against Woodland Hills on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
Central Catholic’s student section, The Fleet, cheers on the Vikings on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, against Woodland Hills at the Wolvarena.
Central Catholic quarterback Payton Wehner carries against Woodland Hills on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
Central Catholic defenders tackle Woodland Hills’ Brandon Jones for a loss on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
Central Catholic quarterback Payton Wehner slides for a first down against Woodland Hills on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
Central Catholic’s Jacob Sassic scores against Woodland Hills on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
Central Catholic’s Peter Gonzalez celebrates his second touchdown against Woodland Hills on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
Central Catholic’s Vernon Settles scores during the third quarter against Woodland Hills on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
Central Catholic’s Cole Sullivan battles for a pass against Woodland Hills on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
Central Catholic and Woodland Hills captains meet at midfield before the start of their game on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
Central Catholic’s Elijah Faulkner scores during the first quarter against Woodland Hills on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
There’s no question Ryan Lehmeier’s reputation as a motivator and sharp offensive mind enticed Central Catholic to hire him as a first-time head coach.
One game into his Vikings tenure, that reputation remains solidly intact.
Wide receiver Peter Gonzalez caught a touchdown on Central Catholic’s opening drive, the first of five thrown by quarterback Payton Wehner as the Vikings ran away with a 43-7 victory over Woodland Hills in a nonconference Week Zero opener at the Wolvarena.
Gonzalez and Vernon Settles caught two touchdowns each, points that made Lehmeier victorious in his coaching debut. The team awarded him the game ball afterward in honor of his first win.
“It’s phenomenal, it really is,” Lehmeier said. “I don’t know if I can put it into words. I think it’s really cool. If anything, it’s reflective of the last couple of months and how far we came.”
This was a matchup of first-year coaches, and Woodland Hills’ Brian Tarrant will have to wait for win No. 1. The Wolverines also scored on their opening drive, cutting Central Catholic’s lead to 8-7, but otherwise couldn’t crack a Vikings defense that’s dotted with future Division I college players.
Central Catholic’s lead was only 14-7 late in the second quarter, before the Vikings scored twice in a minute just before half.
“We were hanging in there,” Tarrant said. “I was really pleased with how the kids started, but it’s now how you start in this business, it’s how you finish.”
Central Catholic led 29-7 at half and 43-7 after three quarters.
A former quarterback at North Hills, Lehmeier won WPIAL and PIAA championships as Pine-Richland’s offensive coordinator, and spent the past two seasons at Seneca Valley. He brought in assistant coach Ryan Reitz to run the Vikings offense, but Lehmeier still takes a hands-on approach.
“The first day he came in, he had all the energy in the world,” Wehner said. “I think it just wrapped around us, and we’re showing it now.”
Wehner completed 17 of 20 passes for 304 yards and five touchdowns with one interception. The Vikings used a hurry-up attack and took shots downfield Friday, leading to three touchdown passes longer than 45 yards.
Gonzalez had touchdown catches of 9 and 54 yards in the first half, while Settles scored 46- and 6-yarders after halftime. Jacob Sessic had a 68-yard touchdown catch just before halftime.
“It’s been bombs away,” Gonzalez said. “We’re putting the ball in Payton’s hands and trusting the receiver corps. You saw it tonight.”
What they also showed is that they can score in various ways. Gonzalez’s longest touchdown came on a one-play drive. But his short TD catch capped off an 11-play series that covered 94 yards.
The Vikings also ran the ball, with Elijah Faulkner picking up 70 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.
Central Catholic’s defense forced two interceptions, and held Woodland Hills scoreless for the final three quarters.
“They’re very talented across the board,” Tarrant said. “But at the end of the day, we didn’t feel like their talent was the problem. They’re functioning as a team. Their getting eight of 11 guys doing their job on a play. We may have had five of 11 on some plays, and they’re going to get you on those plays.”
Woodland Hills’ lone touchdown came on a 61-yard pass from Cam Walter to Scoop Smith, who both are sophomores.
Central Catholic answered with a 10-play, 56-yard touchdown drive that ended with a 6-yard run by Faulkner to lead 14-7.
Sassic and Gonzalez caught long touchdown passes a minute apart in the second quarter to give the Vikings a 29-7 halftime lead.
“I’m sure all coaches favor one side of the ball or another, but we want to play really good football,” Lehmeier said. “The offensive might get a little more attention here or there, but that (Woodland Hills) team is going to score a lot of points. We held them to seven, so I’m pretty happy about it.”
Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.
Tags: Central Catholic, Woodland Hills
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