Central fumbles away perfect record

By CHRIS PERKINS
Daily Journal Sports Writer

HERCULANEUM - Going into week six, Central Rebels fans had a lot to be happy about. The Rebels were 5-0, were coming off a 42 point whitewash of DuBourg a week ago, and had a trip to winless Herculaneum, a team that had been outscored by 113 in their five losses. Eight fumbles, six of them recovered by Herculaneum, ended the Rebels dream of a perfect season, as they lost 17-13.

Things started slowly on both sides. Central was held to a three and out on their first possession. The Blackcats did generate some offense on their opening possession, before an illegal block penalty bogged down the drive.

The teams traded possessions again before Central committed their first fumble of the game. On a Gary Davis punt, the ball bounced off the Rebels punt return unit. The Rebels were able to recover, but it was a sign of things to come for Central.

“The team that commits the fewest turnovers usually wins the ballgame,” Central head coach Kory Schweiss said. “That’s what happened tonight.”

Central’s next drive ended the same way. After an interception by Tony Martin, the Rebel offense fumbled for the third time in the half, giving the Blackcats the ball at the Central 27. Herculaneum returned the favor on the next play, as Malcolm Smith was hit and put the ball on the turf. Central fell on it at their own nine-yard line.

Central’s sixth fumble of the first half finally cost them on the scoreboard. After quarterback Tony Martin was sacked, the Rebels coughed up the ball with less than a minute to go in the half, setting up Herculaneum at the Rebels 7. After three runs, and with the clock still running as the special teams unit ran onto the field, Blackcat kicker Zach Sims connected on an 18 yard field goal as time expired.

After holding Central to a three and out in the third quarter, the Blackcats went on a seven play, 57 yard drive, including a fourth down conversion by quarterback Jason Washburn, who called his own number for a 15 yard gain to the Central 5. Malcolm Smith then pounded the left side, getting into the end zone for the first touchdown of the game. After the extra point, Herculaneum had a 10-0 lead.

Herculaneum got the ball right back from the ensuing kickoff. Kicker Kyle Siebert kicked a bouncing ball that hit off a Central up-man. Siebert fell on the ball, giving the Blackcats another possession at midfield. They took advantage of the opportunity early in the final quarter. Josh Lott started and ended the drive, first with a 27-yard run into Central territory, then finished off the drive with a five yard run up the middle, giving the Blackcats a 17-0 lead with 10:14 left in the 4th quarter.

Central’s offense got into gear in the final period, getting a touchdown on a seven play, 60 yard drive behind the passing and running of Tony Martin. Martin went 3-for-4 on the drive for 32 yards, and got the Rebels on the scoreboard by diving over the pile from one yard out, cutting the lead to 10 with 8:10 to go.

The Rebels got within four on their next series, going back to the air. Martin hit Rodgers twice on the series for 65 yards, including one catch where Rodgers was being tackled before he caught the ball. Martin scored for the second time in less than three minutes, this time up the middle from five yards. The extra point was blocked making the final score 17-13.

Martin went 10-for-20 for 146 yards passing, along with 45 yards on the ground, 13 tackles and one interception on defense. Aaron Bates caught six passes for 65 yards, and Stevan Rodgers had four catches for 81 yards.

Central (5-1, 1-1 MAFC White) will look to get back on the winning track next week as they travel to St. James, while Herculaneum (1-5, 1-3 MAFC White) will host Perryville.