Briefly: Central football debuts with big win over NMCC

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Central quarterback Christian Cavaness made the most of his senior season debut.

The left-handed quarterback threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more in the Tigers' 41-6 victory over host New Madrid County Central on Friday.

Cavaness ended up throwing for 171 yards and running for another 47 in the victory.

Cavaness even got a bounce to go his way. He lofted a ball to Garan Evans down the left sideline as time expired in the first half, and the NMCC defender tipped the ball. But Evans was able to catch the pass and scamper into the end zone for the TD.

NMCC did manage a third-quarter score when Gabe Smith hauled in a 28-yard pass from Corey Guest, but the Tigers responded with their final score, a 5-yard run by Mikey Jones.

Central 7 20 7 7 -- 41

NMCC 0 0 6 0 -- 6

Team Statistics

First Quarter

C -- Christian Cavaness 2 run (Calvin Lovig kick), 4:58

Second Quarter

C -- Cavaness 23 run (Lovig kick), 10:53

C -- Tae Jenkins 20 pass from Cavaness (Lovig kick), 9:01

C -- Garan Evans 27 pass from Cavaness (kick failed), 0:00

Third Quarter

C -- Eric Evans 3 run (Lovig kick), 7:25

N -- Gabe Smith 28 pass from Corey Guest (pass failed), 2:44

Fourth Quarter

C -- Mikey Jones 5 run (Lovig kick), 1:36

First downs (Central-NMCC) 18 10

Rushes-yards 41-207 29-82

Passing yards 171 61

Passes 12-18-0 6-14-0

Punts 1-36 5-106

Fumbles-lost 2-2 3-3

Penalties-yards 8-58 7-62

Individual Statistics

RUSHING -- Central, Chris Martin 3-21, Jacob Campbell 5-15, Mark Ray 5-12, Alex Davis-Carter 8-37, Christian Cavaness 5-47, Eric Evans 4-6, Mikey Jones 10-64, Devon Johnson 1-5. NMCC, Jashawn McDaniel 11-48, Willie Jimerson 2-1, Jimmy Ash 5-(-11), Lamonte Nelson 3-(-4), Harvey Brown 1-1, Corey Guest 6-22, Stanley Smith 2-18, Shermon Taylor 1-4, T.J. Clark 1-3.

PASSING -- Central, Christian Cavaness 12-18-171-0. NMCC, Jimmy Ash 5-9-33-0, Corey Guest 1-5-28-0.

RECEIVING -- Central, Jacob Campbell 2-35, Jacob Boerboom 2-38, Eric Evans 1-14, Tae Jenkins 2-28, Garan Evans 4-54, Mark Ray 1-2. NMCC, Willie Jimerson 1-8, Gabe Smith 4-57, Jashawn McDaniel 1-(-4).