Chickasaws deck winless Tigers 42-6

Central delivered the first punch Friday night.

But Blytheville, Ark., ended up scoring a knockout.

A big knockout.

The Chickasaws allowed an opening-drive touchdown then scored 36 straight points before halftime to take control during a 42-6 romp at Houck Stadium.

Blytheville (2-0) won its 14th straight regular-season game while Central (0-3) remained winless under first-year coach Rich Payne.

After a solid start to the contest that featured Blytheville having to punt on its opening offensive possession, Payne said: "We didn't stop them much on defense."

Especially not during the decisive first-half stretch that saw Blytheville score on five straight possessions after Central's early touchdown.

Utilizing their patented wing T offense that features plenty of size up front and a stable of fast, strong running backs, the Chickasaws averaged nearly 10 yards per rushing attempt in the first half as they piled up 212 yards on the ground.

"It's a tough offense to stop," Payne said.

The Chickasaws are good enough without needing help.

But Central played gracious hosts with five turnovers and a bad punt snap that basically served as a turnover. Blytheville scored after two of the turnovers and the botched punt.

Blytheville's first touchdown drive covered 71 yards, but during the rest of the opening half the Chickasaws needed to march only 51, 44, 6 and 4 yards for their other four touchdowns.

"I was pleased with the way we played," Blytheville coach Doug Quinn said. "I thought we executed the basic part of our offense."

The Tigers started off looking like they might threaten the heavily favored visitors.

Starting at their own 40 after receiving the opening kickoff, the Tigers impressively marched 60 yards in 12 plays.

Senior tailback Cantrell Andrews capped the drive with a 5-yard run for a 6-0 lead. The PAT failed due to a bad snap that forced the Tigers to try to run for it.

Central's defense held Blytheville to one first down on the Chickasaws' ensuing possession, but after that the floodgates opened.

In less than 15 minutes of game clock, Blytheville had a 36-6 lead.

Following Central's early touchdown, the Tigers managed just one first down on their next five possessions.

"Defensively, I was a little disappointed early on," Quinn said. "They did a good job of moving the ball down the field the first drive.

"But I thought we got into a feel, a flow for the game [defensively]."

It didn't help Central that Andrews — who entered as the area's fourth-leading rusher with 318 yards in two games — suffered an injury early in the second quarter. He did not return.

Payne said he expected Andrews, who rushed for 35 yards on eight carries before going out, to be fine.

Junior tailback Brandon Pickens also left with a second-quarter injury — not believed to be serious — and he also didn't return.

The Tigers already were without senior fullback John Ritter, who missed the game with an injury.

Central wound up with young players scattered all over the field.

Freshman tailback Deonte Jenkins displayed promise with 28 yards on nine carries.

"He's a good young athlete," Payne said. "But he's a ninth-grader."

Blytheville outgained Central in total yardage 395 to 136. Don Jackson, who scored three touchdowns, led Blytheville with 106 yards on 13 carries.

Blytheville 8 28 0 6 — 42

Central 6 0 0 0 — 6

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:First Quarter

C — Cantrell Andrews 5 run (run failed)

B — Josh Woodruff 13 run (Woodruff run)

Second Quarter

B — Don Jackson 25 run (Jeremy Heard pass from Jacob Ritchey)

B — Woodruff 6 run (Kofi Boakye kick)

B — Darnell Humphrey 6 run (Boakye kick)

B — Jackson 4 run (pass failed)

Fourth Quarter

B — Jackson 1 run (kick blocked)

B C

First downs 13 9

Rushes-yards 45-377 39-77

Passing yards 18 59

Passes 1-5-0 4-14-3

Punts 1-28 4-32

Fumbles-Lost 3-1 4-2

Penalties-Yards 12-105 1-5

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Blytheville, Jackson 13-106, Fred Wright 6-95, Jarvis Jones 4-79, Woodruff 6-48, Humphrey 6-34, Sam Hill 1-12, Ojavian Cullins 3-4, Ritchey 1-7, Isiah Clark 2-0, Johnathan Smith 2-minus 4, team 1-minus 4. Central, Andrews 8-35, Deonte Jenkins 9-28, Keilon Moore 3-25, Dante Sales 3-10, Brandon Pickens 7-1, Drew Gardner 1-9, Ray Woldtvedt 2-3, Andrew Williams 5-minus 24, team 1-minus 10.

PASSING — Blytheville, Smith 1-5-0-18. Central, Williams 4-14-3-59.

RECEIVING — Blytheville, Woodruff 1-18. Central, Zach Boerboom 2-27, Woldtvedt 1-18, Jared Ritter 1-11, Gardner 1-3.