By: David Wells
Through the first three weeks of the season, Centennial running back Deon Sanders has been the Cougars’ star on offense. But on a night where Clarksville High School’s defense held Sanders to one touchdown, Centennial needed another way to score.
Enter Owen Roth and Emmanuel Hall.
Roth completed 10 of his 17 passes for four touchdowns–all to Hall–and 125 yards as the Cougars evened their record to 2-2 in a 45-14 road victory over Clarksville Friday night.
As it has in past weeks, Centennial’s rushing game provided the foundation for the Cougars offense. Sanders lead the team in rushing yards with 152, averaging 4.8 yards a carry, while the team had 204 yards on 50 attempts.
But it was the passing game that put the Cougars ahead in the first half after Centennial’s defense gave up a 67-yard Lawrenz Guerra run to star the game. Roth tossed two touchdowns to Hall in the first quarter and one in the second, giving Centennial a 21-7 lead.
After Guerra ran in another touchdown–this time from 15 yards out–Centennial kicker Mason Gassaway kicked a 32-yard field goal to make it 24-14 Cougars at the half.
Sanders scored his lone touchdown of the night in the third quarter, and it was all Centennial from that moment onward. Roth threw another touchdown to Hall in the fourth, while Ra’Sean McLemore returned a Clarksville fumble two yards for another touchdown.
Centennial will try for a winning record on Friday as it travels to Summit High School for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
