Central football team defeats Festus to move to 2-0

FESTUS, Mo. -- Christian Cavaness told his linemen he'd attack the gap that Festus left open.

The Central quarterback only needed a few inches for a critical first down in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter Friday night.

"I went to the huddle and told my linemen we need one more yard," Cavaness said. "I told them don't let anyone through. We got a good push out of the linemen."

It was fourth-and-inches from Central's 31-yard line with Central clinging to a 21-16 lead.

Cavaness grabbed the snap and tried to surge ahead.

Keilon Moore

"They stacked those big boys inside and brought those backers up," Central offensive lineman Kevin Flesher said. "But Cody [Owens] got a real good push. I sealed my guy, Zach Horrell sealed his guy and Christian just kept moving his feet. I'm proud of him."

Central didn't get much push against the Festus defenders, but it was enough for the first down with less than four minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Central chewed up the clock and ended the drive with a touchdown, which sealed its 28-16 victory Friday night. It was the first road win for Central since Sept. 22, 2006, a stretch of 18 games.

"Winning gives you that little extra pump in your heart," Central senior running back Keilon Moore said. "It makes you happy. I don't even know what to think. I ain't never felt this way ever."

Central coach Rich Payne said he overruled a couple of his assistant coaches who wanted to punt on the fourth-down play.

"Bottom line is I was on the headsets and I said, 'We're going,'" Payne said. "I think my group up front can get six inches on a quarterback sneak situation, especially against a defense that does not have a nose guard. There's not someone over the center so all we have to do is get some good push and we did."

Payne said his decision to go for the first down was based on trusting his players.

"I need to show the kids that I will not give up on them," he said. "I will not take the conservative way with them."

It didn't take long for Central's offense to kick into gear Friday. After Festus stopped Central on its initial possession, Central found the end zone on its next three.

James Poindexter capped an eight-play drive with a 4-yard run for Central's first touchdown.

Festus didn't hesitate with a response. Quarterback Jason Walker rumbled 69 yards on the first play of the drive to get Festus to Central's 8-yard line. But Central's defense stiffened and forced Festus to kick a 22-yard field goal.

Central went back to work on the ground with James Poindexter breaking off a 27-yard run to start the drive. The big play came on second-and-16 after a holding penalty. Central used a little trickery, giving the ball to wide receiver Christopher Martin on a reverse. Martin raced 43 yards to the Festus 11, and Poindexter found pay dirt on the next play.

"Scary speed is what they have," Festus coach Russ Schmidt said. "It's a low center of gravity. Our kids tackled too high tonight. You can't tackle that high on good running backs like that."

It was Moore's turn to break off a big run on Central's next possession. He bowled over would-be tacklers then used a block from tight end Zach Boerboom to score from 76 yards out.

"I was praying in my mind that he wouldn't give his back," Boerboom said about Festus' last defender on the play. "I was praying he kept running beside me so I could at least get a little piece of him for Keilon. But before the play, I told Keilon, you get past the d-line and I've got the safety for you. I was like, 'I've got to keep my promise.'"

Moore appreciated Boerboom keeping his word.

"It's all offensive instinct," Moore said. "[Boerboom] blocked him and I went on and cut out. He told me before we ever went out there just to follow him. That's what I did. I trusted my line and followed him."

Things threatened to turn dicey in the third quarter when Festus popped up the opening kickoff and recovered it. But Martin intercepted a Walker's pass on the first play from scrimmage to give the ball back to Central.

After Central couldn't move the ball, Festus return man Jordan Ruffin returned a punt to Central's 17-yard line. It looked like Festus scored on a pass to Blaine Eggemeyer on the first play of the drive, but a penalty wiped the scoring play off the scoreboard.

"How a touchdown gets taken off the board like that in high school football like that is beyond me," Schmidt said. "You know, I never got an explanation. ... That six points I certainly think would have changed the momentum for the Festus Tigers."

Central's defense rebounded to thwart the drive without yielding a first down.

Festus got the ball back inside Central's 30-yard line when Cavaness threw his first interception of the season. But Festus was forced to punt and downed it at the 1-yard line.

Central tried to mount a drive only to fumble and have Festus recover at the Central 13 for Festus' third consecutive possession that started inside Central's 30.

Festus fumbled the ball back to Central on the next play.

"The defense stepped up and we took care of it," Moore said. "I know my team. I know we going to get it done when we're supposed to."

Central opened 2-0 for the first time since 2002, which also is the last time Central started 3-0. It will get its chance for 3-0 when it hosts Obion County, Tenn., on Saturday.

Central 7 14 0 7 -- 28

Festus 0 10 0 6 -- 16

First Quarter

C -- James Poindexter 4 run (Andrew Hileman kick), 1:15

Second Quarter

F -- Reid Karscig 22 FG, 11:57

C -- Poindexter 11 run (Hileman kick), 10:04

F -- Blake Goddard 10 pass from Jason Walker (Karscig kick), 4:14

C -- Keilon Moore 76 run (Hileman kick), 3:12

Fourth Quarter

F -- Goddard 13 run (run failed), 4:43

C -- Moore 17 run (Hileman kick), 4:38

C F

First downs 14 12

Rushes-yards 47-331 41-186

Passing yards 25 42

Passes 1-4-1 6-13-1

Punts 4-31.3 4-38

Fumbles-lost 4-1 4-2

Penalties-yards 8-57 4-30

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Central, Deonte Jenkins 9-30, Keilon Moore 12-143, Christian Cavaness 10-8, Rodney Reynolds 5-15, James Poindexter 9-91, Austin Davis 1-1, Christopher Martin 1-43. Festus, Jason Walker 15-111, Donta Taylor 11-34, Jordan Ruffin 5-5, Alex Graham 9-23, Blake Goddard 1-13.

PASSING -- Central, Christian Cavaness 1-4-25-1. Festus, Jason Walker 6-13-42-1.

RECEIVING -- Central, Zach Boerboom 1-25. Festus, Reid Karscig 1-19, Jordan Ruffin 1-0, Donta Taylor 1-(-8), Blaine Eggemeyer 1-9, Blake Goddard 2-22.