Nacogdoches Dragons’ Stadium. November 17, 2017 –
The Center Roughriders fell to the Silsbee Tigers by a 37-17 score on Friday. The game was played at Nacogdoches High Schools’ Dragons’ Stadium and was one of two Bi-district playoffs. The ‘Riders were the fourth place representative of District 9 4A-1 and came in with a 3-3 conference record and a 3-7 overall standing. Silsbee ended District 10 play with a 4-1 mark and are now 6-4 overall for the season.
Center began the game with an onside kick which they recovered near midfield. The Roughriders first offensive drive found them in a fourth-down-and-fourteen yards to go situation just four plays into the game. Center punted the ball to Silsbee who took over at their own 19 yard line. The Tigers were able to mount an eight-play scoring drive which was capped with a 35-yard touchdown run by sophomore tailback Christopher Martin with 7:46 left in the opening period. A good extra point kick put Silsbee up 7-0.
Martin added another rushing score to his resume with 8:46 left in the first half which gave the Tigers a 14-0 advantage, after senior kicker Eric Martin added the extra point kick.
Silsbee extended their lead to 20-0 when senior Kalen Barnes pulled down a 19-yard touchdown pass with 4:58 remaining in the second quarter.
Just before the halftime intermission, the Roughriders were able to get their first score when freshman running back Marques Hall capped a three-play ‘Riders’ scoring drive with a 10-yard scoring run. Alexis Lopez added an extra point kick and Center narrowed Silsbee’s lead to just 20-7.
Lopez pulled Center to within 20-10 with a 27-yard field goal with less than five minutes left in the third period.
A 74-yard run by sophomore running back Draylon Taylor helped Silsbee get a 2-yard touchdown and extend their lead to 27-10 with 2:30 left in the third stanza.
Center pulled to within 27-17 when sophomore quarterback Jayden Hicks scored on a 14-yard keeper run with just seconds left in the third period.
The fourth quarter saw Silsbee extend their lead to 30-17 with a 36-yard field goal early, and a 40-yard rushing touchdown with 7:30 minutes left, gave the Tigers the final 37-17 margin of victory.
This completed the season for the Center Roughriders. Silsbee will move on to face Bay City who defeated Yates last Thursday. Details are pending at this time.
Silsbee finished Friday’s contest with a 461 to 86 yard advantage rushing. Center held an advantage in passing yardage. The ‘Riders completed four passes, of fourteen passing attempts, for 62 yards. Silsbee completed three passes, on five attempts, for 31 yards.
Center lost two fumbles, Silsbee turned the ball over three times, having two interceptions and a fumble.
