NMCC rushing attack breaks down Rebels

By MATT KING
Daily Journal Sports Writer

PARK HILLS '” The Central Rebels saw their defense spend much of Friday night chasing the nimble and elusive running backs of visiting New Madrid County Central during a clash of Class 3 football programs.

Sophomore G'Darius Stevenson and senior Bryan Waters each posted triple-digit rushing totals behind a physical line, and the Eagles compiled 315 total yards on the ground while never trailing in a 44-22 victory.

Stevenson scored four touchdowns on just nine carries for 160 yards, and Waters produced most of his 120 yards on 15 attempts in the first half for NMCC (5-2), which easily overcame nine penalties during the contest.

Central (4-3) marched 11 plays on its opening drive before stalling, and the Eagles responded in impressive fashion. A 22-yard pass from Dontre Jenkins to Will Craft set up a 5-yard scoring run by Rodney Anderson. Jenkins then ran untouched for the two-point conversion.

Stevenson made his first trip to the endzone on the second New Madrid drive, taking a late option pitch from Jenkins 42 yards down the right sideline with 11:08 left in the second quarter. Another two-point run from Jenkins made it 16-0, and that margin would not change before halftime.

Central failed to muster another dangerous drive before intermission, but made two key defensive stands. Lineman Kory Wakefield recovered a fourth-and-goal fumble for the first stop, and time would expire on the Eagles with the football at the Central 10.

The Rebels capitalized on a bad snap to the Eagles' punter and a key pass-interference call, as senior Tony Martin scored with a 4-yard run. NMCC regained the momentum, however, with a 5-yard scamper by Stevenson and subsequent conversion less than two minutes later for a 24-6 lead.

Martin struck again for Central as a receiver on a 36-yard slant pass from C.J. Bland, and Tyler Friend scored the two-point run to make it closer, but the Rebels could not contain Stevenson.

Central began the ensuing defensive series with a 16-yard sack, but missed at least four tackles on the next play as Stevenson broke loose along the left sideline for a pivotal 81-yard run. Waters added a 14-yard scoring run as the stanza concluded for a comfortable 36-14 margin.

Martin, who compiled 10 tackles and 61 rushing yards on the night, tallied his third TD on a 21-yard strike from Bland with 6:09 remaining. Friend paced Central in rushing with 78 yards on 16 carries.

New Madrid finished with an impressive 10-play possession, capped by Stevenson's 4-yard run with 1:23 left. Kony Ealy caught three passes plus the final two-point conversion.

Jenkins deflected away what looked like a sure touchdown after tight end Brad Bales slipped behind the Central secondary during the opening period, and also added a third-quarter interception on defense, while finishing 6-of-11 passing.

Ryan Calvird made three receptions for Central, and Jaron Bridges added two tackles for loss. The Rebels will host Ste. Genevieve to open district play next Friday.

NMCC   8   8   20   8 - 44

Central   0   0  14   8 - 22

First Quarter:

NMCC (8-0) - Anderson 5-yard run (Jenkins run), 2:35

Second Quarter:

NMCC (16-0) - Stevenson 42-yard lateral from Jenkins (Jenkins run), 11:08

Third Quarter:

CEN (16-6) - Martin 4-yard run (Pass Failed), 6:09

NMCC (24-6) - Stevenson 5-yard run (Stevenson run), 4:17

CEN (24-14) - Martin 36-yard pass from Bland (Friend run), 2:23

NMCC (30-14) - Stevenson 81-yard (Run failed), 1:11

NMCC (36-14) - Waters 14-yard run (Pass failed), 0:00

Fourth Quarter:

CEN (36-22) - Martin 21-yard pass from Bland (Bland run), 6:09

NMCC (44-22) - Stevenson 4-yard run (Ealy pass from Jenkins), 1:23