Central football team takes down Sikeston in 47-7 rout

~ The Tigers posted a first-half shutout to defeat the conference rival Bulldogs

Standing outside the locker room, Central safety Jalen Reddin's face lit up when asked about his defense.

For as explosive as the Tigers' offense has been this season, questions have continued to linger about the team's defense.

Many of those questions were put to rest Friday night as Central put on an all-around dominant performance in a 47-7 win over conference and district rival Sikeston at Tiger Stadium.

The Tigers' senior defensive star wasn't afraid to admit that this might just be the beginning of good things to come.

"We feel like we've got a lot to prove, especially coming out of last year," Reddin said. "We really didn't show as much we were supposed to, so we've just got to show everything we can do on defense."

Central coach Nathan Norman congratulates wide receiver Al Young after his two-point conversion against Sikeston during the first quarter Friday, Sept. 5, 2014 at Central High School. (Fred Lynch)

Central (3-0) held Sikeston (2-1) to only 96 rushing yards and recorded a first-half shutout while the Tigers' offense exploded for 27 points in the second quarter.

However, special teams got the ball rolling early for Central.

After the Tigers forced the Bulldogs to punt on their opening drive near midfield, junior Al Young broke down the sideline for an 81-yard punt return that was set up by two vicious blocks down field. The extra point was blocked as Central led 6-0 with 7 minutes, 9 seconds left in the first quarter.

"It was huge. Before that punt return, we let them drive on us a little bit. They looked pretty good, but that punt return really sparked us, and after that, it was pretty much over," Central coach Nathan Norman said. "Our kids really played well, got excited and did some nice things."

The Tigers' defense forced a turnover on downs later in the quarter and gave the ball back to their offense, which took advantage in six plays. On fourth-and-5 at the Sikeston 45, quarterback Peyton Montgomery kept the drive alive with a 32-yard pass to running back Braion Owens. Montgomery pushed his way into the end zone two plays later on a 1-yard sneak up the middle to add to Central's lead. Young carried the ball in for the two-point conversion as the Tigers led 14-0 heading into the second quarter.

In the second half, Montgomery and Young took the game over.

The two combined for three straight touchdowns from 18, 28 and 29 yards out, and Central led 34-0 with under three minutes remaining in the first half.

Central quarterback Peyton Montgomery carries against Sikeston during the second quarter Friday, Sept. 5, 2014 at Central High School. (Fred Lynch)

"Every day in practice, we understand that we need to take advantage of it because it's another day that we can get our chemistry together and do what we did tonight," Montgomery said. "Athletes usually understand each other pretty well with body language and other things. It's coming along really good. We want to keep it up."

Montgomery finished 4 of 5 passing for 107 yards, three scores and no interceptions. He also added 47 rushing yards on five carries.

Young finished with a game-high three receptions for 75 yards.

"Those two are tough to stop," Norman said of Young and Montgomery. "If you don't cover Al every second while Peyton's scrambling, then you're going to be in trouble."

Montgomery was also complimentary of Young's ability.

"He brings a threat to the defense. They need to know where he's at, and when I'm scrambling, he's always aware of where I'm at and stays open," Montgomery said. "He makes a good quarterback look great and makes bad quarterbacks look great. He's just an all-around good player."

Following their defense's fifth stop of the first half, the Tigers, who entered the game ranked No. 7 in Class 4, added to their lead on a 22-yard burst by Owens up the middle to give Central a 41-0 advantage at halftime and force a running clock in the second half.

Central's Kway'chon Chism reaches for the ball fumbled by Sikeston's Earnest Fobbs during the second quarter Friday, Sept. 5, 2014 at Central High School. Chism recovered the ball for Central. (Fred Lynch)

"It was just a counter play for us, a little misdirection," Norman said of the play. "Their defense flies to the ball. They do a good job of being aggressive, and we ran a counter play where you fake one way and obviously come back another. Braion set it up very nice. He was smooth and had a good kickout block by the lineman."

On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Owens scored his second touchdown of the night, this time from 60 yards out.

Despite the number of weapons the Tigers possess on offense, Owens has become the team's workhorse at running back.

"Coming from last year and being a returning starting running back, I just knew that it was going to be all about power and running the ball all night," Owens said. "We've got Al for the outside, and I'm just that inside guy."

Owens finished with a game-high 122 rushing yards on 12 carries, averaging 10.2 yards per run. Norman said ball security and experience is what makes Owens a reliable tailback.

"He's a smart football player. He knows the ins and outs of the offense. He's a good blocker, and he's just a great overall high school running back," Norman said. "He's the workhorse. He's the third-down back and the guy who's going to have to give us a yard."

Sikeston put together its only scoring drive midway through the third quarter when quarterback Nathan Hampton connected with Courtney Hawkins on a 15-yard touchdown pass. The extra point cut the Bulldogs' deficit to 47-7.

For the defense, Norman said much of the offseason was spent trying to improve at each position, a move that's beginning to show itself on the field.

"We wanted to be better football players, and if you do that, you're going to have a better unit. That's what we worked on," Norman said. "We're getting better. We've got a long way to go, but we're still getting better.

"I've got great position coaches, and that's what it boils down to, kids playing their position like they're coached to play. When you do that, you've got a sound football team."

Central will take the road next week, looking to add to its impressive early-season start against conference rival Poplar Bluff.

Despite the blowout victory, Norman doesn't want his team to lose focus on the overall picture.

"You can't get lackadaisical," he said. "It was a big rivalry game. We've got to go on the road next week. We've got to forget about this. We've got to move on. We want to win the conference, so we play a conference opponent next week.

"We've got a job at hand."

Sikeston 0 0 7 0 -- 7

Team 14 27 6 0 -- 47

First Quarter

C -- Al Young 81 kickoff return (kick failed), 7:09

C -- Peyton Montgomery 1 run (Young run), 2:58

Second Quarter

C -- Young 18 pass from Montgomery (Nathan Mecum kick), 9:26

C -- Young 28 pass from Montgomery (Mecum kick), 4:33

C -- Young 29 pass from Montgomery (kick failed), 2:56

C -- Braion Owens 22 run (Mecum kick), 1:32

Third Quarter

C -- Owens 60 run (kick failed), 11:08

S -- Courtney Hawkins 15 pass from Nathan Hampton (Hampton kick), 5:40

S C

First downs 8 11

Rushes-yards 34-96 34-190

Passing yards 49 129

Passes 11-16-0 5-6-0

Punts-Average 5-29 2-25

Fumbles-Lost 2-1 1-1

Penalties-Yards 5-38 10-90

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Sikeston, Earnest Fobbs 17-41, Victwon Riley 7-38, Phazun Fobbs 1-7, Marcus Williams 1-6, Justus Faulkner 1-2, Jason Moore 1-2, Hawkins 3-2, Hampton 2-0, Deonundre Johnson 1-(-2); Central, Owens 12-122, Montgomery 5-47, Khane Booker 4-12, Young 2-11, Joshua Jones 2-7, Jordan Franklin 1-6, Tyler Banks 6-(-1), Kway'chon Chisom 2-(-14).

PASSING -- Sikeston, Hampton 11-16-49-0; Central, Montgomery 4-5-107-0, Chisom 1-1-22-0.

RECEIVING -- Sikeston, Hawkins 3-26, Shane Garrett 1-10, E. Fobbs 2-9, Faulkner 4-7, Fobbs 1-(-3); Central, Young 3-75, Owens 1-32, Tevyn Wright-Hunt 1-22.