Tigers top Rangers in inaugural grid meeting Thursday

If you were near Central High School‚s football stadium Thursday evening you would‚ve sensed the excitement in the air when these two teams locked horns in the inaugural game between Class 2A Roland and Class A Central.

During their fast-paced game, both teams experienced their share of ups and downs. Both teams‚ defenses were on display, most of the first quarter holding each other‚s offense scoreless. With just over 3:30 left in the first quarter, Roland‚s Logen Thomas threw an errant pass intended for Logan Lorenz, which was picked off by Coy Blackburn who took it 40 yards for the first touchdown of the game. That was followed by a successful two-point conversion pass to Cade Tucker which made the score 8-0.

In the second quarter Central successfully marched 62 yards down the gridiron in 13 plays. Tigers‚ quarterback Joseph Lee scrambled the last six yards on a fourthand- goal play to earn Central‚s second touchdown of the Roland‚s Kejuan Youngblood tries to turn the corner while fending off Central defenders Coy Blackburn, Joseph Lee and Cade Tucker during the inaugural meeting between the teams on Thursday at Central. game.

Roland answered back with a 65-yard drive of their own in the second stanza consisting of 10 plays. Ashton Peters had a nine-yard run which kept the drive alive on a fourth-and-one play. Thomas completed a 21 yard pass to Desean Cruse, who was stopped at the nine-yard line. Peters was able to get Roland on the board with a short fourth-and-one run into the end zone. The two-point conversion was good as well making the score 14-8 Central going into the locker rooms at halftime.

In the third quarter Roland would come out ready to play, keeping Central scoreless. Thomas completed three passes on a 62-yard drive that took 11 plays, one pass play was for 20 yards to Davohn Hall and two others went to Peters for 17 and 12 yard gains with the last pass moving the Rangers‚ line of scrimmage to the 10-yard line setting up first and goal. Thomas passed to Hall in the end zone for another touchdown and the extra point was good which gave Roland a 15-14 lead going into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth stanza Central needed the help of some big plays to change the tide and retake the lead. Tucker stepped up and caught a 21-yard pass on a fourthand- nine play that kept the 50-yard drive alive. Lee finished off the drive two plays later by keeping the football and rushing the last 14 yards into the end zone and the two-point conversion was successful putting the Tigers back in the lead, 22-15 with 8:19 left in the game.

The Tigers would score on their next drive that was made possible due to an interception by Central‚s new playmaker, Aidan Sainer. The Tigers didn‚t waste this possession driving 86-yards from Central‚s own 14-yard line, the Tigers would keep the ball on the ground for the length of the drive, with Lee running the ball himself on the last play. Lee rushed the last 40-yards needed and his third touchdown of the night and the extra point was good making the score 30-15 with 2:17 left in regulation.

Roland came alive, quickly driving seven plays and 66 yards down the field with Thomas connecting with Kyeree Hall in the end zone on a 21-yard pass which made the score 30-21.

Roland needed to make their two-point conversion attempt to make it a onepossession game but Central‚s defense held.

With 48 seconds left Roland would need a miracle to win and Roland head coach Austin Cantrell was certainly going to try an onside kick with Peters doing the honors.

After recovering Roland‚s onside kick, Lee was able to take a knee on the last down which made the final score 30-21.

Central head coach Jeremy Thompson had emphasized the need for the Tigers to shut down Roland‚s running game during the week of practice leading up to the game.

The Tigers‚ offense registered 13 first downs, rushed 39 times for 228 yards and completed 5-of-14 passes for 37 yards.

The Rangers‚ offense recorded 18 first downs, rushed 35 times for 106 yards and completed 14-of-26 passes for 157 yards.

The Tigers had eight penalties for 76 yards and the Rangers were flagged three times for 25 yards.

Lee, the Tigers‚ quarterback, completed 4-of-10 passes for 37 yards with one interception while rushing 25 times for 173 yards and three TDs. Tucker, who caught two throws for 23 yards, returned an interception for a touchdown, Blackburn had 12 carries for 65 yards and 13 tackles and Hunter Pack added 12 tackles.

Thomas completed 14-of-26 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions and Roland‚s receivers were Kyeree Hall (4 catches for 60 yards and a TD), Peters (4 for 29), Cruse (1 for 21), Davohn Hall (1 for 20 and a TD), Lorenz (2 for 15) and Kejuan Youngblood (2 for 11).

Peters (9 carries for 42 yards and a TD) was the Rangers‚ leading runner and trailing him were Youngblood (11 for 40), Thomas (12 for 18) and Michael Taylor (3 for 6).

In their district openers Friday night Central hosts Haskell and Roland takes on Keys at home.