Key play goes against Central football team in loss

ST. PETERS, Mo. -- Central football coach Nathan Norman could not have been any closer to the play of the game in his team's 21-7 loss to Fort Zumwalt East Friday night.

The game was tied 7-7 late in the third quarter and the Tigers had a third down near midfield. Quarterback Dennis Vinson tried a swing pass to Jacob Campbell. It was just out of his reach, but no whistle sounded as the ball landed near the Central sideline. Zumwalt East's Nick Glenn picked it up and ran it into the end zone for a Lions touchdown.

"I had a great view of it, and obviously I thought it was a forward pass," Norman said. "I think everybody thought it was, except for the officials. Nonetheless, we teach our guys to always get on the ball in a situation like that whether it be a lateral or forward pass."

Campbell tried to do just that.

"It was definitely a forward pass, but we are always taught to go after the ball," Campbell said. "But I was pushed out of bounds and could not react."

The play was a huge momentum changer but did not deter the Tigers (2-2) from making things interesting at the end. Central reached the red zone midway through the fourth quarter but turned the ball over on downs. On the next play, Mason Burnett, a Division I prospect as a linebacker, carried the ball 79 yards for a Zumwalt East touchdown.

The Tigers nearly cut the Lions' lead to one touchdown as Vinson threw a picture perfect bomb that went just off the hands of Garan Evans in the end zone for what would have been a 44-yard touchdown with just over three minutes to play.

"We had some hard times tonight, but I was proud of the way we kept fighting," Campbell said.

Central couldn't get anything going offensively in the opening half. The Tigers did not record their first first down until 4 minutes, 12 seconds remained in the second quarter when Vinson and Evans combined for a 55-yard pass. Central was limited to 14 yards rushing on 18 carries and had eight plays from scrimmage result in negative yardage in the opening half.

But the Tigers' defense matched the Lion defense in a scoreless half.

Zumwalt East (3-1) got the ball first in the second half and capitalized on a fourth-and-2 when quarterback Shane Barrett ran 54 yards for a touchdown.

Central answered that long score with an electrifying one of its own. Campbell broke numerous tackles for a 44-yard touchdown run on the Tigers' first possession of the second half.

"I really can't believe I scored on that play," Campbell said. "I had several defenders on me, but I got away and had one guy to beat and was able to use the stiff arm on him."

The score remained 7-7 until the disputed play, which resulted in the go-ahead touchdown for the Lions.

"There could have been a different outcome if the ball had bounced here and there for us," Norman said. "But I really liked the effort of the guys. They fought hard all the way and never gave up. We need to be smarter and learn from this, and we have to move on."

Central returns to action Friday, hosting arch rival Jackson in the teams'annual matchup.

Central 0 0 7 0 -- 7

Ft. Zumwalt East 0 0 14 7 -- 21

Third Quarter

FZE -- Shane Barrett 54-yard run (Thomas Czerniejewski kick), 9:44.

C -- Jacob Campbell 44-yard run (Calvin Lovig kick), 6:15.

FZE -- Nick Glenn 46-yard fumble recovery (Czerniejewski kick), 2:38.

Fourth Quarter

FZE -- Mason Burnett 79-yard run (Czerniejewski kick), 4:34.

C

First downs 8

Rushes-Yards 37-128

Passing yards 5-14-0, 90

Punts 5-209

Fumbles-Lost 2-2

Penalties-Yards 4-30

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Central, Chris Martin 18-73, Vinson 4-minus 32, Jared Thomas 1-0, Jacob Campbell 12-78, Kyle Thompson 2-9.

PASSING -- Central, Dennis Vinson, 5-14-0-90.

RECEIVING -- Central, Garan Evans 3-72, Thompson 1-9, Campbell 1-9.