Tigers outlast Pawnee in 2 OTs, will face Hooker in state quarterfinals
The Central Tigers probably got their toughest test so far this season, regular season or playoffs, when they faced the Pawnee Black Bears in a Class A second-round playoff game Friday night at Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers were able to keep their historic perfect season intact as well as advance to the Class A state quarterfinals as they outlasted the Black Bears 36-34 in double overtime.
“To be 12-0 and to do what they’ve done, and continue to do, is remarkable,” Central coach Jeremy Thompson said. “A lot of guys stepped up. We had an injury here and there. Guys just stepped up and filled in for them. They did a tremendous job. That’s a true team (Pawnee) right there we beat.”
The Tigers (12-0) will meet the Hooker Bulldogs (10-2) at 7 p.m. Friday in Newcastle. Hooker edged Minco 21-20 in a Battle of Bulldogs in Friday night’s second-round playoff game in Minco.
There was only one time in play of the drive, connected with Tucker on a 21-yard touchdown pass. However, the two-point conversion pass play failed, keeping Pawnee ahead 16-6 with 7:29 remaining in the third period.
The Tigers stopped the Black Bears on their next drive and forced a punt. However, Central’s Easton Girty partially blocked the punt, which ended up at the Pawnee 42 with 5:44 remaining in the quarter.
The Tigers used the same scoring combination as before as Lee hit Tucker on a 19-yard TD pass with 4:38 left in the period. Coy Blackburn caught Lee’s twopoint conversion pass to cut Central’s deficit to 16-14 going into the fourth quarter.
The Black Bears regained the lead on a 35-yard touchdown run by Casey Tucker with 8:43 left in the game. However, for the first time on the night, the Tigers stopped the two-point conversion, keeping Central just a single score behind at 22-14.
The Tigers got the game tied at 22 on Lee’s first TD run of the game, and third accountedfor touchdown, as the senior quarterback took it in from five yards out. Lee then hit Tucker on the two-point conversion pass to knot the game.
After stopping the Black Bears at the Central 34 with eight seconds left on what would have been the game-winning drive, the Tigers had one last chance to win the game in regulation.
Lee hit Tucker out in the flat, then Tucker lateraled the ball to Josh Marino, who rambled close to 60 yards before being stopped at the Pawnee 10 to end the game, setting up overtime.
Mitchell scored his third TD of the night on a 5-yard run, but the two-point conversion run failed. The Black Bears led 28-22. Thompson said the three two-point conversion stops were crucial.
“That is the guts, character and heart of this football team. They have played that way all year. They know the situation. They did it in regulation, and they did it in overtime. You can’t coach that. That’s what is in their guts and hearts. It’s how they fight.”
The Tigers tied the game on their first OT possession as
Central quarterback Joseph Lee tries to get away from a Pawnee defender during Friday night’s Class A second-round playoff game at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers defeated
DAVID SEELEY • TIMES Blackburn caught Lee’s TD pass to tie the game at 28-all. Since the Tigers only needed an extra point, they decided to go for the conventional PAT. However, the Black Bears blocked Isaac Rogers’ kick, keeping the game tied, and forced the second overtime.
“We’re a second half team,” Thompson said. “It was just the confidence. I’ve seen them all year. They (Pawnee) are a firsthalf team, and we’re a second-half team. We came in and fought hard in the first half. We took their best shot (in the first half). We came out in the second half, and we did what we do.”
For the game, Lee rushed for 92 yards and two touchdowns, while passing for 179 yards and three more TDs — accounting in some manner for all five Central touchdowns on the night.
Blackburn rushed for 25 yards, while Goodson rushed for five yards during his stint while Lee was recovering from his injury.
Tucker caught nine passes for 143 yards and two TDs, while Blackburn caught two passes for 13 yards and a touchdown. Green caught two passes for 14 yards, while Xhaiden Mosby had two receptions for nine yards.
Defensively, Girty led the Tigers with 16 tackles and a punt block, Tyler Busch had 15 tackles and Mosby had 14 tackles.
