Central running game powers Tigers to win over Vashon

ST. LOUIS -- Prior to the start of the season, Central football coach Nathan Norman identified a number of Tigers that would contribute in the running game.

So take your pick.

Central had eight players combine for 417 yards and six touchdowns on the ground as the Tigers survived a shootout and defeated the Vashon Wolverines 44-34 in Friday night's season opener at Sumner High School's Tuskegee Airmen Field.

"We knew that as the game went on that the running game would be our road to victory, and it worked out like we planned," Norman said. "We gave up too many yards, gave up too many big plays and made too many mistakes, but the highlight of the night was our offensive line blocking, our wide receivers blocking and our running backs being disciplined, hitting the hole where they're supposed to and getting five yards at a time. That put the game away, ball control."

Central (1-0) ended up battling more than an athletic Class 4 District 2 team in Vashon (0-1). The game-time temperature was 95 degrees and the teams combined for 29 penalties, dragging out the contest for a total of 3 hours and 53 minutes.

Norman awarded the game ball to trainers Kate Yamada and Grace Fornwalt, along with sophomore running back Tyler Banks, who became an unlikely hero in the late in the game.

Holding a 37-28 lead in the fourth quarter, the Tigers orchestrated a 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive that took more than six minutes off the clock. Banks had four carries for 41 yards on the drive, including an 11-yard touchdown run that gave Central a comfortable two-possession advantage with 5:21 remaining in the game.

"He did a nice job of doing what he was supposed to do," said Norman, who called Banks' number with the simple request of protecting the football. "He didn't try to get fancy. It was downhill running. He did a good job."

The Tigers fell behind early and were gashed on several long-yardage situations. Norman said he was impressed with the Wolverines.

"I've heard people say we're as athletic a team as you'll see in Class 4," Norman said. "They're as athletic a team as you'll see in Class 4. They have phenomenal athletes. ... It's hard to prepare for a team like that. They did a great job. Hats off to them. They played hard. Both teams, I thought, played extremely hard."

After Central quarterback Peyton Montgomery's first pass of the season was intercepted on the Tigers' opening possession, Vashon responded with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Clifton Dickens to Larry Shelton on fourth-and-10. Dickens added a run on the two-point conversion to give the Wolverines an 8-0 lead with 9:07 remaining in the first quarter.

Central responded with a scoring drive of its own as Montgomery connected with Jalen Reddin from 3 yards out to cap a 53-yard drive and cut the Tigers' deficit to 8-6 with 6:18 left in the first.

In the second quarter, the Tigers began to find a rhythm.

Norman shifted junior wide receiver Al Young into the backfield to prevent Young from being double-teamed in open field.

The adjustment paid dividends, and Young scored all three of his touchdowns in the period. Although he finished the game without a reception, Young led the Tigers in rushing with 11 carries for 96 yards.

"It felt good. A lot of stuff was going through my mind because we knew that they were athletic," Young said. "We knew we had speed, and they had speed. We just had to match it."

No Tiger running backs eclipsed the 100-yard mark, but five Tigers ran for 50 yards or more.

"It came down to depth at running back for us," Norman said. "We're fortunate enough to have it."

Defensive end Andre Statam set the tone for Central's defense. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound senior had two tackles behind the line of scrimmage that forced long downs for Vashon in the second quarter.

Norman said it was the first varsity game for Statam, who's known around Central for his skills on the basketball court.

"He has a phenomenal motor, and he played extremely hard. He laid it all on the line and left it all on the field," Norman said. "He total-body cramped about two minutes into the fourth quarter, but you love that about him. He's going to be a heck of a football player."

The Tigers took a 24-14 lead into the break and added another score on their first possession of the second half. Braion Owens carried the ball into the end zone from 4 yards out, giving Central a 30-14 lead with 6:20 to go in the third quarter.

Owens finished with 14 carries for 79 yards.

Vashon immediately responded when Charvez Lewis returned the ensuing kickoff 51 yards for a touchdown, cutting the Wolverines' deficit to 30-20.

The Tigers answered by going 56 yards on a drive that was extended with several big plays from Montgomery, who scrambled to convert two first downs.

Montgomery wasn't stellar through the air, finishing 3-of-9 passing for 35 yards, one touchdown and one interception, but Norman was pleased with his quarterback's ownership on offense.

"He was our leader, and that's what we've got to have," Norman said. "He's going to continue to get better. He's in a total new system. He's going to have to be given a little bit of a grace period."

Central finished the game with nine penalties for 75 yards, while Vashon racked up 136 yards on 20 penalties.

It was about what Norman expected, considering the shakiness that comes with opening night.

"We said before the game that we wanted to play our football. We wanted to play disciplined football. I honestly thought we did that for the most part," Norman said. "When you play a team that has 20 penalties, that increases your penalties. I'm not giving excuses for our kids. Nine penalties is unacceptable, but that's just kind of the way it is sometimes."

The win marks Norman's second season-opening victory. His first came in 2011, when he debuted as the Tigers' head coach and led Central past New Madrid County Central.

"It's a huge step," Norman said of starting the season with a victory. "1-0 feels so much better than 0-1. We've got to learn from this game and move on. We play a good St. Charles West team next week. I've seen them ranked as high as third in the state.

"We've got our work cut out for us."

Central 6 18 13 7 -- 44

Vashon 8 6 6 14 -- 34

First Quarter

V -- Larry Shelton 28 pass from Clifton Dickens (Dickens run), 9:07

C -- Jalen Reddin 3 pass from Peyton Montgomery (conversion failed), 6:18

Second Quarter

C -- Al Young 2 run (conversion failed), 7:45

V -- Charvez Lewis 2 run (conversion failed), 3:19

C -- Young 10 run (conversion failed), 2:04

C -- Young 11 run (conversion failed), 1:28

Third Quarter

C -- Braion Owens 4 run (conversion failed), 6:20

V -- Charvez Lewis 22 51 kickoff return (conversion failed), 6:13

C -- Reddin 8 run (Nathan Mecum kick), 1:26

Fourth Quarter

V -- John Mitchell 16 pass from Dickens (Dickens pass to Devon Anderson), 11:52

C -- Tyler Banks 11 run (Mecum kick), 5:21

V -- Charvon Lewis 25 run (conversion failed), 0:38

C V

First downs 25 9

Rushes-yards 64-417 22-35

Passing yards 35 243

Passes 3-9-1 15-31-0

Punts 1-32 3-71

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1

Penalties-Yards 9-75 20-136

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Central, Young 11-96, Owens 14-79, Montgomery 11-67, Banks 9-61, Reddin 8-50, Jordan Franklin 6-26, Khane Booker 4-19, Joshua Jones 1-19; Vashon, Charvon Lewis 2-35, Dickens 14-25, Charvez Lewis 4-(-7), Larry Shelton 1-(-8), Dante Weston 1-(-10)

PASSING -- Central, Peyton Montgomery 3-9-35-1; Vashon, Dickens 15-31-243-0

RECEIVING -- Central, Kway'chon Chisom 1-23, Owens 1-9, Reddin 1-3; Vashon, Mitchell 5-101, Dahlen Jones 1-73, Shelton 4-44, Charvon Lewis 2-15, Brandon Jones 1-5, Markevion Darough 1-5