University High looked like a team in search of an identity through its first two games of the season.
The Cubs found a statement win Friday night against Catholic High.
Defensive back Luke Ewing provided the exclamation point with a game-clinching interception in overtime. The turnover ended Catholic's hopes and lifted the Cubs to a 27-21 win at Memorial Stadium.
Catholic (2-1) tied the game 21-21 on Rylan Parker's 3-yard touchdown run with a minute left in the fourth quarter. The Cubs ran out the clock to send the game to overtime.
U-High (2-1) struck on the first play in overtime when Emile Picarella connected with Zay Martin for a 10-yard score. The Cubs left the door open for Catholic when Mason Melancon's extra point was off target.
The Bears then had a first-and-goal at the 4 before three consecutive illegal-procedure penalties pushed them back. On the following play, Ewing intercepted Turner Goldsmith's pass over the middle.
Ewing credited Cubs linebacker Keylan Moses with an assist on the play.
"Keylan said watch the inside slant from the outside receiver, and that's what I did," Ewing said. "He looked inside and I jumped the route. I got lucky enough to catch it."
Catholic started the game with touchdowns on its first two possessions, but only had the ball for six plays in the second quarter. Bears starting quarterback Baylor Graves completed 6 of 7 passes in the first half, but sat out the second with an injury.
Goldsmith stepped in and was 3 of 7 for 36 yards. He also had 22 yards rushing.
Picarella completed 11 of 22 throws for 156 yards, including three to Ethan Kimmie. One of those was a 31-yard strike that gave U-high its first touchdown.
Overall, U-High showed more offensive consistency than it did in either of its first two games. The Cubs picked up 13 first downs and finished with 260 total yards.
"Some of it is us getting better and some of it that we played a tough schedule," U-High coach Andy Martin said. "Rummel's a good football team and Catholic is a good football team. We do this so we can be better at the end of the year."
Catholic scored the first two times it touched the ball and looked like it was ready to run away from the Cubs before penalties became a factor. In all, Catholic was penalized 13 times for 79 yards.
The penalties that hurt the most in the first half came with U-High trailing 14-7. The Cubs faced a fourth-and-10 at the CHS 16, but consecutive offside penalties on Catholic led to a U-High first down.
One play later, Moses scored on a 1-yard keeper from the shotgun.
"I don't think we played with the high intensity that we're capable of for the whole game," Catholic coach Hudson Fuller said. "Our intensity fluctuated throughout the game instead of staying consistent."
