Using the tight rope — Central senior Cole Davis runs close to the Effingham sideline during the Cougars’ 42-7 win over the host Hearts on Friday night. Davis ended with 12 carries for 76 yards while scoring twice. PHOTO BY CRAIG HUEGEN The Central Cougars got their season off in fine fashion on the road Friday night when they scored the final 42 points in their win over Effingham.
The Cougars are now 1-0 on the season and will host rival Mater Dei in the annual Milk Bowl on the Cougars’ new field turf.
The Wesclin Warriors were not as fortunate as they took a heartbreaking overtime loss at home to Marshall on Friday night. The Warriors will host Newton this Friday in Trenton.
Central 42, Effingham 7: The Cougars spotted the Hearts seven before rattling off seven-straight scores for the victory.
Effingham senior quarterback Jaxon Bridges connected with sophomore Jenner Pals for a 70-yard touchdown completion with 3:24 left in the opening quarter for a 7-0 lead.
“We started out slow defensively,” said Central head coach Brian Short. “We just didn’t play the touchdown right and they capitalized.”
Central responded with two touchdowns of their own in the second quarter.
Senior back Cole Davis scampered in from two yards out while Bryce Wieter added the point after, for a 7-7 tilt.
Central sophomore quarterback Owen Kehrer connected with Wieter for a five-yard score to take the lead for good at 14-7 with half the second quarter gone. That was the score at the break.
“We settled in there with two nice drives and got things going,” said Short. “Overall, I like how our guys handled things and got the job done.”
Davis found pay dirt one more time early in the third quarter with a six-yard score and a 21-7 lead.
Kehrer went to the air one more time as he scored when connecting with Wieter from eight yards out with two minutes left in the third with a 28-7 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Senior Conlan Haar made it 35-7 with a two-yard run before Colten Crone ended the scoring with a pick six that went for 35 yards and a 42-7 final.
Kehrer was 14-of-20 through the air for 203 yards passing with two touchdowns. He carried the ball 11 times for 40 yards.
Davis ended with 12 carries for 76 yards while Kameron Biggs added 13 carries for 53 yards. Wieter had four catches for 28 yards and two scores. Nate Behrmann added four catches for 59 yards. Jackson Kampwerth had two catches for 47 yards.
Wieter and Brody Beckmann each had four tackles to lead the defense.
Bridges was 13-of-26 for 183 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Pals had five catches for 116 yards. Effingham was held to just 11 yards on the ground.
Tough loss — Wesclin wide receiver Caleb Ferris takes on the attempted tackle of Marshall’s Max Welsh in the first half of the Warriors’ 38-36 loss to the Lions on Friday. The Warriors host Newton this Friday in Trenton. PHOTO BY BETH HOLLENKAMP Marshall 38, Wesclin 36 (OT): The Warriors blew an early lead on the way to a heart-breaking loss at home on Friday.
The Warriors ran out to a 14-0 lead on a 22-yard touchdown from William Waggoner and another 1-yard plunge from Cael Madden with 2:27 left in the opening quarter.
Marshall got on the board in the final seconds of the first quarter to trail in Trenton 14-6.
Madden went to the air in the second quarter when he connected with Caleb Ferris for a 16-yard touchdown and a 21-6 lead with four gone in the second quarter.
Marshall added a rushing TD later in the quarter while Madden ran in another one for the Warriors as they led 28-12. The Lions got one more score in the half with the two-point conversion as they trailed 28-20 at the break.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Lions forced overtime with a touchdown to start the fourth quarter.
In overtime, Madden ran it in from two yards before the Lions answered when Lucca Giannavola ran it in from one-yard out before converting the conversion for the victory. The touchdown was his third of the contest.
Madden led the Warriors with 18 carries for 115 yards and three touchdowns. He was 11-of-17 passing for 112 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Ferris led the defense with six tackles and a sack. Christian Lopez added five tackles and an interception.
