Scoring drive Oracle quarterback AJ Beckett is setting up a pass to Braden Atwood, good for 43 yards, in the fourth quarter. The drive ended about a minute and a half later with Cory Smith running in from the two-yard line for Delphi's first and only touchdown score. Final score was 54-7, Central Catholic. Bill Stauffer photo The second time around didn't start well for Oracle coach Vince Burpo as the third ranked Central Catholic Knights lived up to their ranking with a 54-7 victory.

CC gained 295 yards on 21 carries for a 14-yard average. They also tacked on 198 yards passing to dominate the stats sheet. The Oracles' lone touchdown came in the fourth quarter after the Knights had built a 54-0 lead.

CC went ahead 7-0 on their first possession on a 12-yard run by speedster Mike Murphy. Tom Almond scored on an 11-yard run for the Knights the next time they had the ball. A missed extra point made the score 13-0 going into the second period.

CC's Murphy showed his speed early in the second when he sprinted 47 yards to put CC up, 21-0.

A 20-yard pass from AJ Beckett to Justin Salyer, who moved to receiver early in the game after starting at QB, gave the Oracles their first down of the game. A 30-yard pass from the same duo on the next play gave the Oracles some momentum. They had a first down on the CC 15. An interception by the Knights' Jake Mikalis stopped the threat.

After moving the ball into Delphi territory, a sack by the Oracles' Daniel Clawson forced the Knights into a passing situation. On the next play Salyer made an interception to stop the Knights. After failing to move the ball, a 50-yard punt by Salyer put CC back at their 22-yard line to start their next series. A 41-yard run by Cody Christopher capped a three-play drive to extend the lead to 27-0 going into the half.

The route was on, when, on the first play of the second half the Knights completed an 87- yard pass to run the score to 34-0. The next three Oracle possessions ended in interceptions. Each turnover led to another TD by CC. The lead had been doubled to 54-0 with four minutes still to play in the third.

The Oracles scored their only touchdown with a drive that began with a bad snap on a fourth down punt attempt. The punter, Salyer, picked the bouncing ball and ran around left end for a seven-yard gain and a first down. Beckett tossed a pass to Braden Atwood good for 43 yards. An interference penalty on CC in the end zone gave the Oracles a first down on the Knights' nine-yard line. Cory Smith finished the drive with a twoyard TD run to finish the scoring for the game.

While the Oracles were soundly beaten and need work in several areas, they have nothing to be ashamed of. CC is probably the best team that the Oracles will face this year. They have one of the fastest teams around the area and can go deep into the tournament at the end of the season.

Delphi will be home again playing host to the Carroll Cougars in the annual Bacon Bowl. The game at Berto Field will start at 7 p.m.