Center Watches Gilmer Pull Away in Lopsided Second Half Loss

September 5, 2016 – The Center Roughriders varsity football team had an early lead and trailed only 27-21 at halftime. But they later saw Gilmer spool off 50 unanswered points, in route to a 70-21 Buckeye homecoming win. The Buckeyes outscored the ‘Riders 43-0 in the second half. The game played out at Gilmer’s Jeff Traylor Stadium and was the Buckeyes 22 consecutive home field win dating back to 2012.

Center had the first possession but only managed to move the ball four yards on their opening drive. CHS punted the football to the GHS 31 yard line. Gilmer capped a 69 yard scoring drive with a 37-yard touchdown reception from Poppy Brown to Qua Heath with 8:11 left in the first period. The Gilmer extra point attempt bounced off the upright and was no good. Gilmer led 6-0.

Center got their first first-down of the contest on their next drive but was forced to punt the ball back to Gilmer after only advancing the football to their own 35-yard line. Gilmer took over possession on their own 25-yard line after a good Center punt and a holding penalty. On the fourth play of their possession Heath pulled down his second touchdown reception of the game and gave GHS a 13-0 lead with 5:25 left in the opening frame.

Gilmer gave Center the football early in the second quarter after losing a fumble at Center’s 30 yard line. Roughrider quarterback, Kyle Parks, hit Adrian Johnson near midfield and the receiver wasted no time dodging a defender and racing 49 yards for a score with 11 minutes left in the first half. Marcos Lopez kicked the extra point to pull CHS to within 13-7 of Gilmer.

After Center forced Gilmer into their only punt, Kyle Parks exploded for a 27-yard touchdown with 6:59 left in the first half, capping a 65-yard scoring drive, and giving Center a 14-13 lead.

Gilmer capped a 62-yard scoring drive when Brown took a keeper 12 yards up the middle for a score which gave GHS a 20-14 lead with 3:51 left before the midway break.

Center tied things up on a 54-yard scoring drive capped by a 2-yard Parks score, after a failed Gilmer onside kick. Lopez gave CHS a narrow 21-20 lead, with a good extra point kick, with just 1:03 left before halftime.

Gilmer capped a 62-yard scoring drive with a weaving 20-yard run by Kelton Collier with just seconds left before the intermission. Cap Ibarra kicked the extra point and Gilmer took a 27-21 lead into the locker room at the midway break.

Center led in the takeover category as they recovered two Gilmer fumbles and did not turn the ball over during the contest. Gilmer led on total yardage with 677 yards to Center’s 269. Gilmer gained 33 first downs to Center’s 12.

Next week Center will head to Gladewater to face the Bears Friday, September 9, at 7:30 p.m. Gladewater beat Kilgore Friday by a 29-27 score. They are 1-1 after losing, 14-10, to Carthage on opening week.