Centennial Comes Back With Big Fourth Quarter
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwind | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Centennial | 6 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 20 |
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Sometimes it really does come down to who wants it more, in that crucial moment.
In Centennial’s 20-14 win against Southwind (8-3) on Friday night in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs, the Cougars had a little bit more to give at the end of an extremely physical game.
Centennial (10-1) retook the lead twice in the fourth quarter, led by three Tyrel Dodson touchdowns- two in the fourth quarter- and, really, just would not lose.
The muddy field sucked cleats and coated jerseys, arms, helmets, everything. It slowed both teams down and turned the game into an old-fashioned slugfest. Of the combined 24 possessions, 17 ended in punts or turnovers on downs.
It was, in a short, a playoff football game. Neither team broke 100 yards passing, and both ran for less than 150 yards. Though Southwind lost a fumble and threw an interception while Centennial committed no turnovers.
“It was kind of weird game for both teams, a lot of penalties, lot of sloppiness,” said Centennial head Coach Brian Rector. “But you know what? I saw a lot of kids fighting all night long. We weren’t perfect, they weren’t perfect. They fought their tails off all night long and my hat is off to them.”
“This time of year we take it any way we can get it and just hope to get better for next week.”
Dodson (11 carries, 77 yards) scored the lone points of the first half on a 2-yard run from a direct snap- the Cougars missing the extra point attempt.
In the third quarter Southwind finally cobbled together a physical, run, run, run, drive, scored and booted the extra point through with 2:47 left. The Centennial crowd gasped and went silent. They knew what the players knew, what the coaches knew- in a game with points so scarce, that could easily be it for the Cougars.
So the fourth quarter began with Centennial trailing 7-6. The Cougars returned a Jaguar punt to the 34-yard line. Then Devious Chrismon made an acrobatic 31-yard catch that set Centennial up with a first-and-goal from the 3-yard line. Cue Dodson.
Up the gut, carrying half of the Jaguar defense with him, the Aggies commit reached the ball across the goal line as he fell down. Centennial regained the lead, but missed the extra point, 12-7, with 9:16 left in the fourth quarter.
Southwind responded with its most impressive drive of the game, putting together a string of first downs against the exhausted and soaked Cougar defense. The Jaguars scored on an end-around run from quarterback , and made the extra point.
Down 14-12, two missed extra points from Centennial loomed large.
After the kick the Cougars were backed up to their own 4-yard line. They were looking at 96 wet yards and 11 fired up Jaguars between them and the lead. Dodson, instead, saw daylight. He broke free around the left end and pounded out 58 yards, down to the Southwind 36. The Centennial crowd went absolutely nuts.
A couple of runs and a 15-yard personal foul by Southwind moved the ball to the 5. Cue Dodson. He busted in, again.
Centennial converted on a 2-point attempt and took a 20-14 lead with a little more than four minutes left in the game.
We Had The #1 Seed On The Rope 14-12 And Let Him Go! That 70 Yard Tyrel Dodson Drive Will Hunt Me For Some Months! Not A Ric Flair Moment!!!
— Coach R. Slocum (@mo_2_vate) November 7, 2015
Fired up, the Cougar defense stuffed the Jaguars, who failed to convert on a fourth-and-7 with 2:34 left. Centennial ran the ball a few times, made a first down, and let time run out.
For the game, Southwind totaled 224 yards on offense (85 passing 140 rushing), Centennial 208 (64 passing, 143 rushing). Mondu Sawyers added 50 hard-earned yards on 17 carries for Centennial. Chrismon had his catch for 31 yards to lead the Cougars.
Next week Brentwood (6-5), which also advanced, comes to Centennial.
