Central comeback falls short against NMCC

~ The Tigers' comeback fell just short in a 32-30 loss to New Madrid County Central.

The Central football team showed signs of life offensively in the second half Friday against New Madrid County Central, but an inability to stop the run doomed the Tigers in a 32-30 loss at Houck Stadium.

Marquese Gates rushed for 240 yards on 28 carries, and Deanton Brown picked up a pair of 13-yard runs on third-down plays late in the fourth quarter to help ice the win.

"I know from the stands it looks like they're taking a baseball bat and clubbing our heads, but a lot of it is players aren't lined up right," Tigers coach Lawrence Brookins said. "Part of that is youth, but that's going to pretty much end in a few hours."

Eagles quarterback Leslie Williams attempted just three passes, although two went for touchdowns. Brown finished with 77 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown. Gates had already rushed for 136 yards at the half, including a score on a 50-yard run, his first of the game.

"That's what we've got to do to win," New Madrid coach Arlen Pixley said. "We have to establish the run and stick with it. We did a good job of that in the first half. I wish the half hadn't come when it did."

The Eagles (2-0) led 14-9 at the half, and thanks to two touchdown strikes from Williams in the third, they extended the lead to 26-9 late in the quarter.

Following a New Madrid turnover, Tigers running back Hykeem Hammonds provided a spark. Hammonds scored on a 65-yard run to cut the lead to 26-16, and he scored again following a botched punt snap on a 6-yard run to narrow the gap to 26-23 midway through the fourth.

"I was pleased with the second half," Brookins said. "I was unhappy and angry with the first half. We've got to come out blazing from the get-go. These teams we're playing are pretty good."

Despite allowing a pair of third-down conversions that ate up several minutes of clock, the Tigers (0-2) were able to force the Eagles to turn the ball over on downs at the Tigers 35 with 1:32 left.

Facing a third-and-15, Blake Slattery threw down field looking for Tyler Terry. Terry was knocked down on the play, and Williams intercepted the pass and returned it 60 yards for the game-winning score. The play looked like it could have gone for an interference call, but no call was made.

"My take is simply you can look at it either way," Brookins said. "Some people said they got their feet tangled up. I thought it was interference, but they're not going to change their minds. I've always believed these types of plays you want to look at the other points of the game when we could have decided our fate."

Derek Walker caught a touchdown pass with 1.9 seconds left to finish the scoring.

Hammonds finished with 125 yards rushing for the Tigers.