Center Roughriders Stadium on Friday, October 8, 2021 –
The Center Roughriders varsity football team faced a tough task on Friday as they hosted the undefeated 2020 State Champion Carthage Bulldogs in a District 10 4-A2 opener.
The Bulldogs won by a 64-18 score giving them a 1-0 District 10 mark and a 5-0 overall season record. Carthage has not lost since an overtime loss in the season opener of last year. The Roughriders have fallen to 0-6 this year with a 0-1 conference mark.
Friday’s game saw Carthage build an early lead. Braeden Wade pulled down a 14-yard touchdown reception which helped give the Bulldogs a 7-0 advantage with 9:31 minutes left in the first quarter. Center was forced to punt on their next possession. ‘Dogs quarterback Connor Cuff hit Wade for a 24-yard score which put the Bulldogs up 14-0 with 7:35 still left in the first quarter.
The remainder of the first stanza saw Carthage build their lead to 28-0. ‘Dogs receiver Will McDaniel extended the Carthage lead to 34-0 with 5-yard touchdown reception at the 10:35 mark of the third period.
Center got on the scoreboard when Emonte Cross hit Jamarion Evans for a 32-yard touchdown pass which cut the Carthage lead to 34-6 with 8:05 left in the second quarter. Later in the quarter Lance Wilburn took a pass from Evans and raced to the endzone for an 82-yard score. This cut the Carthage lead to 41-12 with 7:31 left until halftime.
Carthage took a comfortable 55-12 lead into the locker room at the midway break.
Wilburn added a 53-yard scoring reception to his resume with just over 3 minutes left in the contest but the game ended with Center still trailing 64-18.
The Roughriders will travel to Shepherd High School for their second conference game on Friday, October 15, 2021. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. The Pirates are 2-4 and 0-1 in league play. They fell to Madisonville in their conference opener last Friday by a 24-18 score.
