Tigers fall in season opener to Heavener Wolves

Heavener used a powerful running attack and made its one completed pass pay off in a big way as the Wolves defeated the host Central Tigers 23-14 Friday night at Tiger Stadium in the openers for both teams.

The Wolves, coming off their best season since 2004 and first playoff berth since 2011, handed Central its first regular-season loss in two years and snapped a four-game losing streak against the Tigers.

Trailing 6-3 at the half, the Wolves (10) took the lead for good on the first play of the second half on a 45-yard scoring run by Jaxon Armstrong.

Armstrong added a 6-yard touchdown late in the third quarter to build the advantage to 16-3.

The Tigers (0-1) scored on the first play of the fourth quarter on a 5-yard run by quarterback Braxin Goodson. The two-point conversion was good as Goodson to cut Heavener’s lead to 1614.

Heavener iced the game with 5:59 remaining in the final quarter. The Wolves completed their first pass of the night, and it was a big one as quarterback Alex Armstrong hit tight end Spencer Clubb on a 14-yard pass.

While Central had trouble moving the ball on the ground, the Tigers made up for it through the air as Goodson threw for 130 yards on 18-of-34 passing with an interception by Heavener freshman Kason Free, who was injured late in the contest.

However, Heavener’s running attack pretty much controlled the game. The Wolves rushed for 319 yards on 54 carries.

Earlier in the game, Heavener’s Fernando Villanueva kicked a 23-yard field goal to give the Wolves a 3-0 lead with a minute left in the second quarter.

The Wolves stripped the ball on the kickoff, but then threw an interception that was picked off by Goodson who returned the INT deep in Heavener territory.

The Tigers scored on a 6-yard pass with 12.9 seconds left in the half from Goodson to Joe Brooks to take their only lead of the game at 6-3 at halftime as the PAT failed.

The Tigers will hit the road to face the Warner Eagles at 7 p.m. this Friday.