Jackson trounces Central 44-0

For the first time all season Central football coach Lawrence Brookins could not even praise his team's effort after a loss.

The Tigers (1-5) looked overmatched in all facets of the game in a 44-0 rout at the hands of rival Jackson on Thursday night at Houck Stadium. It was Jackson's third straight win overall and third in a row in the storied rivalry, which the Indians have owned of late.

"This is the first game all year I've questioned our kids' effort," Brookins said.

Jackson (4-2) held the Tigers to 63 yards of total offense, including minus-two yards rushing. Central's leading rusher, Hykeem Hammonds, was held to negative four yards on eight carries, while Derien Downing led the team with 13 yards on a direct snap run.

"We're questioning ourselves as coaches," a dejected Brookins said. "We think we're doing a decent job. I know my staff works extremely hard. Evidently something's missing.

"We may have to make some personnel changes. We still have to stay positive because our district's wide open."

Jackson buried the Tigers from the opening kickoff. Central finished with negative five yards on its first three plays, then allowed a touchdown on the punt. Jordan Sneathen went 45 yards untouched down the left sideline for the early score.

"I followed all the blockers," Sneathen said. "All the blockers knocked them all to the ground. I just had to put it in the end zone."

Added Jackson coach Carl Gross: "That was huge. That deflates the other team when your defense hasn't been on the field and you're down 7-0."

Matters only got worse for the Tigers. Later in the first, Jackson turned Central quarterback Garrett Stevens' 10th interception this season into an eventual score. Joel Penrod rushed from 7 yards out to finish the drive and put Jackson ahead 14-0 after one quarter.

After a 21-yard field goal by Grant Ressel midway through the second, Sneathen finished off the scoring in the first half with a 35-yard touchdown reception from Rex Meyr with just over a minute remaining in the half. Sneathen bobbled the pass, on a fourth-and-6 play, before getting a grip.

"The one we caught in the end zone, we saw that route was open, and it was a good throw," Sneathen said.

Jackson's three second-half touchdowns all came on drives of 27 yards or less following Central fumbles. Penrod, Trae Smith and Zach Humphrey all scored on runs.

"We played hard," Gross said. "Offensively, I thought we took the ball at them early. We overcame a couple of penalties on drives with our passing game. I thought Rex settled down when he got his feet under him."

Penrod led Jackson with 108 yards on 23 carries, all in the first three quarters. Meyr completed four of six passes for 63 yards.

Central's poor play was compounded by an injury to Stevens late in the third quarter that forced him out of the game. Stevens appeared to injure a knee, but the severity of the injury was not known after the game.

The Tigers will host Fort Zumwalt North next Thursday before beginning district play.

"Our coaching staff knows we can turn it around going into district," Brookins said. "We just have to convince the kids."