North Little Rock's Immaculate Conception School swept the Little Rock Parochial League football championship Oct. 20 before a crowd of 1,000 fans on Catholic High School's new practice field.
The Falcons took the B Division title over Our Lady of the Holy Souls School in Little Rock 30-14 and also upended the Wabbits in the A Division, 22-8. This is the second consecutive year the Falcons won the league title in both divisions.
The early contest saw Immaculate Conception jump out to a 14-0 lead in the first half, thanks to seventh-grade tailback Alex Rahbany. Holy Souls struck back on the first play from scrimmage after the break when quarterback Austin Allsbrook hit wideout Salvador Guzman to get within a touchdown. But the Wabbits would not come any closer, having no answer for Rahbany.
Falcons quarterback Matthew Nichols ran for one score and threw for another to wide receiver Nicholas Burks caught a touchdown pass en route to the win. Holy Souls running back John Chase ran in one score and also a two-point conversion in the losing effort.
In the A Division, Holy Souls scored first on a quarterback keeper by eighth grader Russell Brown who also ran in the two-point conversion. The remainder of the second half was a defensive struggle until Falcons quarterback Connor Rahbany, Alex's older brother, ran it in right before halftime.
Late in the game, the Falcons returned to Alex Rahbany, who scored the go-ahead touchdown and two-point conversion. A tough defensive stand by Immaculate Conception resulted in a turnover on downs at the Holy Souls four yard line, Connor Rahbany iced the game with his second score of the game, followed by Alex Rahbany's sixth two-point conversion of the night.
The Falcons' B Division team ends the season with a 3-1-1 while the A Division squad posted a 3-2 record. The Wabbits' A and B Division teams end the year at 3-2 and 4-1, respectively. Christ the King also participated in the league this year.
Both games were played on Catholic High School's Roy Davis Field, billed as a "championship night under the lights." CHS was not only the host but staff also participated in the event. Rector Msgr. Lawrence Frederick led the opening prayer and guidance counselor Brother Richard Sanker, CFP, performed the coin toss. In addition to performances by the middle school cheerleading squads, the Mount St. Mary Academy cheerleaders and Rockettes performed. Alumni Andrew Norwood, his wife, Ashley, and the CHS coaching staff cooked hot dogs for the capacity crowd.
CHS English and religion teacher Steve Aday, who organized the event, said, "The goal in having the championship game at night was to make it something very memorable for all those who participated. Everyone in the diocese really supports each other, and this is another shining example of CHS's commitment to the Catholic community."
