Tigers can't close the deal at John Burroughs

~ 21-point barrage in third quarter lifts Bombers past Central 28-7

It was just one play among many in a three-hour football game. But a goal-line stand in the final seconds of the first half proved to be crucial for John Burroughs in its season opener against Central on Saturday afternoon.

The Tigers were stopped inches from a touchdown twice in the final 15 seconds of the second quarter in a game which at the time was tied 7-7.

John Burroughs, which is ranked second in the state in Class 3, carried the momentum of the huge defensive stand into the second half, scoring three third quarter touchdowns in a 28-7 victory under brutally hot conditions.

John Burroughs athletic director Peter Tasker said the heat index reached 104 degrees, just one degree lower than the mandated 105 number which would have stopped the game.

Mikey Jones, who had scored on a 9-yard run midway through the second quarter to tie the game, thought he had scored when he took the ball from the 4-yard line with 22 seconds remaining in the half. He reached the ball over the goal line but the officials ruled his knee was down before the ball broke the plane.

"I got a huge hole and I felt that I was in," Jones said. "But then I heard the whistle. That would have been a huge play for us if we had scored right before the half."

Central hustled to the line and had one more chance on a quarterback sneak by Dennis Vinson. But once again the Tigers came up just inches short as the horn sounded.

"That was a judgement call which just did not go our way," Tigers coach Nathan Norman said of the Jones' carry. "It was a huge, huge momentum play and was tough for us to overcome."

The Tigers got the ball to start the second half but things did not go well as they went three-and-out on their first two possessions of the third quarter. That resulted in short fields for the Bombers, who took advantage. John Moten scored on a 7-yard touchdown run, and Ronald Smith made a spectacular catch in the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown on a throw by Nick Duncan.

John Burroughs would score another third quarter touchdown on a one-play drive, Moten scoring on a 59-yard run.

Moten has the unenviable task of filling the shoes of Zeke Elliott, an Ohio State recruit who lead the St. Louis area with 50 touchdowns last year.

Central had its moments throughout the contest but just could not get out of its own way at times.

The first touchdown by the Bombers, a 13-yard pass from Duncan to Nathan Van Slyke early in the second quarter, went through the hands of Tiger defender Al Young and right into the hands of Van Slyke.

A pretty 50-yard pass from Vinson to Bailey Keller on an improvised play in the second half was negated by a penalty. A 54-yard punt by Keller, which was downed at the 1-yard line, also came back because of a penalty.

"We definitely have to clean up our mistakes," Norman said. "We need to do things offensively to open up the passing lanes and we need to do a better job of tackling on defense.

"You have to give John Burroughs a lot of credit for playing the way they did in these conditions, but I thought we played well in the conditions as well. I do not think we wilted in the heat. The good news is that I do not think we have any major injuries. I think we can do some good things this season."

The Tigers return to the St. Louis area this Friday when they travel to St. Charles West in search of their first victory of the season.

Cape Central 0 7 0 0 -- 7

John Burroughs 0 7 21 0 -- 28

Second quarter

JB -- Nathan Van Slyke 13-yard pass from Nick Duncan (Trevor Bain kick), 11:53.

C -- Mikey Jones 9-yard run (Tevyn Wright-Hunt kick), 6:20.

Third quarter

JB -- John Moten 7-yard run (Bain kick), 9:22

JB -- Ronald Smith 21-yard pass from Duncan (Bain kick), 4:57.

JB -- Moten 59-yard run (Bain kick), 1:40.

Team stats

First downs -- JBS 18, Central 11)

Punts -- Central 7-229

Fumbles-lost -- JB 3-2, Central 4-1

Penalties-yards -- JBS 9-63, Cape 5-35

Individual statistics

Central

Rushing -- Braion Owens 15-73, Mikey Jones 14-58, Dennis Vinson 6-18, Khane Booker 1-8, Al Young 3-6, Chase Eubank 1-3.

Passing -- Vinson 2-11-1, 59 yards

Receiving -- Nikylus Thompson 1-35, Al Young 1-24.