Central coach says linemen were instrumental in District A-8 showdown win over Gore

The Central Tigers won last week’s District A-8 showdown against the Gore Pirates at Tiger Stadium.

While obviously pleased with the 2616 victory last Friday night, Central coach Jeremy Thompson could not have been more pleased with his linemen, on both sides of the ball.

Central’s starting offensive linemen were left tackle Tyler Busch, left guard Derek Young, center Ethan McKinney, right guard Cole Holcomb and right tackle Josh Marino. Thompson said that quintet helped the Tigers win the time of possession battle, helped them move the ball and — more importantly — keep the ball away from the Pirates.

Several Central Tigers football players gang-tackle Gore ball carrier Bladin McCartney during last Friday night’s District A-8 game at Tiger Stadium.

“I was very proud of the offensive line,” Thompson said. “I thought the offensive line played extremely well. We had the ball for such a long period of the football game. We controlled the clock and the football. That was a big key (to beating Gore). In doing that, maybe we didn’t finish drives, but they (offensive linemen) played a very good football game that allowed us to do that (winning the time of possession).”

Defensively, the Pirates only had 136 yards of offense and scored twice — once early in the first quarter which was set up by a Central fumble, and the other score coming in the fourth quarter after Central was ahead 26-8.

The defense, spearheaded by Marino, Girty and Mekko Ariza, was just as much a factor in Central’s win over Gore as the Tigers had seven quarterback sacks, a fumble recovery and stopped the Pirates on downs once.

“Mekko, our nose guard, had a great game,” Thompson said. “His stats may not be up there (near the team leader for the game), but he was a big reason why we played so well defensively. He was in the backfield all night. Easton Girty also had a great game. The defensive and offensive lines had great games. I was very pleased with how they played.”

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CORRECTIONS

In Wednesday’s edition, the Vian placekicker in the photograph with the Vian football game story was misidentified. He is Mikayah Mendoza.

Also, Vian quarterback Masyn Wright rushed for 154 yards and scored two touchdowns, while Vian running back Draighton Fletcher rushed for 142 yards in scoring his four TDs in last week’s home win over Henryetta.

The online version of the story and the photograph cutline are correct.

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WEEK 7 INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS

100-YARD RUSHERS

Maddux Shelby, Webbers Falls — 184 yards.

Masyn Wright, Vian — 154 yards.

Brock Streun, Sallisaw — 142 yards.

Draighton Fletcher, Vian — 142 yards.

Coy Blackburn, Central — 128 yards.

Ashton Peters, Roland — 127 yards.

100-YARD PASSERS

Maddux Shelby, Webbers Falls — 272 yards.

Joseph Lee, Central — 129 yards.

Tate Brooksher, Gore — 127 yards.

SCORING-12 POINTS/MORE

Shelby Maddux, Webbers Falls — 26 points.

Draighton Fletcher, Vian — 24 points.

Joseph Lee, Central — 18 points.

Brock Streun, Sallisaw — 12 points.

Tyson Williams, Roland — 12 points.

Masyn Wright, Vian — 12 points.

DEFENSIVE HONOR ROLL

Devon Mannon, Gore — 18 tackles, nine solo, a tackle for loss and a caused fumble.

Kolten Riggs, Sallisaw — 12 tackles, four solo, and a quarterback hurry.

Caden Cowan, Gore — 12 tackles, eight solo.

Bladin McCartney, Gore — 11 tackles, three solo, and three tackles for loss.

Hunter McGee, Gore — 10 tackles, seven solo, and a fumble recovery.

Josh Marino, Central — Nine tackles, six tackles for loss, and four QB sacks.

Ayden Cox, Gore — Nine tackles, five solo.

Dakota Moore, Webbers Falls — Nine tackles, five solo.

Cole Stephens, Sallisaw — Eight tackles, three solo, and a pass breakup.

Devan Gibbs, Muldrow — Eight tackles, five solo, with a tackle for loss.

Jacob Gregory, Muldrow — Eight tackles, seven solo.

Austin Foster, Muldrow — Eight tackles, five solo.

Gabe Miller, Muldrow — Eight tackles, six solo.

Zane Nolan, Webbers Falls — Eight tackles, five solo.

Mikey Moust, Sallisaw — Seven tackles, a QB sack and a QB hurry.

Easton Girty, Central — Seven tackles, three QB sacks and a fumble recovery.

Ashton Foster, Muldrow — Six tackles, four solo, and a fumble recovery.

Mekko Ariza, Central — Six tackles.

Peyton Johnson, Vian — Six tackles.

Riley Ellis, Vian — Six tackles with a tackle for loss.

Journey Shells, Gore — Six tackles, four solo.

Maddux Shelby, Webbers Falls — Six tackles, three solo.

Dawson Littlefield, Webbers Falls — Six tackles, four solo.

Kash Keepes, Sallisaw — Five tackles, a QB sack and a QB hurry.

Cooper Cox, Sallisaw — Five solo tackles and two pass break-ups.

Braxton Lamb, Sallisaw — Five tackles, two solo, and a QB hurry.

Cash Collins, Vian — Five tackles. Keeton Rowe, Gore — Five tackles.

Dayton Smith, Gore — Five tackles, two solo.

Aiden Turley, Webbers Falls — Five tackles, two solo.

Tristan Wiley, Vian — Four tackles.

Lane Jameson, Vian — Four tackles.

Nathan Cheater, Vian — Four tackles.

Dante Glass, Vian — Four tackles.

Bryon McDuffie, Gore — Four tackles, three solo.

Jagger Moore, Gore — Four tackles, one solo.

Chester Abercrombie, Gore — Four tackles, two solo.

Kaydin McCartney, Gore — Four solo tackles with a tackle for loss.

Ben Ward, Webbers Falls — Four tackles, three solo.

Cole Mayfield, Sallisaw — Three tackles, two QB hurries, a fumble recovery and a pass break-up.

Caden Pollard, Sallisaw — Three tackles and a QB sack.

Noah Flores, Sallisaw — Three tackles, a QB sack and a QB hurry.

Bodie Adams, Sallisaw — Three tackles.

Tristan Walter, Muldrow — Three tackles, two solo, and a caused fumble.

Jermauree Palmer, Muldrow — Three tackles, one solo.

Masyn Wright, Vian — Three tackles, three tackles for loss, and a QB sack.

Draighton Fletcher, Vian — Three tackles.

Kaden Fullbright, Vian — Three tackles.

Michael Polecat, Vian — Three tackles and an interception.

Tristan Wiley, Vian — Three tackles with a tackle for loss.

Austin Barger, Webbers Falls — Three tackles, two solo.

Brutus Robinson, Webbers Falls — Three tackles, one solo, and an INT.

Caden McNamara, Webbers Falls — Three tackles, one solo.

Gunner Shelby, Webbers Falls — An INT.

Broque Oft, Sallisaw — A pass breakup and two tackles.

Jace Holman, Sallisaw — A pass breakup and a tackle.

Deshawn Wilson, Muldrow — A pass break-up.

Adoff Stahl, Vian — A fumble recovery and an INT.

Tyrick Mosley, Vian — A caused fumble and a tackle.

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Coaches, I need to make sure I get your offensive and defensive statistics either put on your MaxPreps website wall or e-mailed to me at davids@ cookson.news by no later than 10 a.m. Thursdays to be able to give your player(s) some special recognition from the week before in each week’s Gridiron Notes Column.

David Seeley is sports editor for Your TIMES. He can be reached by telephone at (918) 775-4433, Ext. 139 or by email at davids@cookson.news.