Center Roughriders Stadium on Friday, September 29, 2023 –
The Center Roughriders varsity football team gained a 76-48 District 8 4A-2 win over the visiting Rusk Eagles on Friday. The win gives Center a 2-0 conference mark and a 5-1 season record.
Center drove the ball in the early going but Eagle Bricion Griffin recovered a CHS fumble to give Rusk possession and stop the Roughrider’s drive. The Eagles capped a 68-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown reception from Brady Barrier to Aiden Barnett. A Carlos Galan extra point kick helped give RHS a 7-0 advantage with 8:49 minutes left in the first quarter.
A 7-yard touchdown run by ‘Rider Kaden Dixon capped a 66-yard drive by CHS and a Carlos Hernandez extra point kick tied the game at 7-7 with 6:22 left in the opening frame. Rusk had to punt on their next drive and Center went up 14-7 after quarterback Cash Cross hit Lance Wilburn for a 55-yard scoring strike with 4:12 still left in the first period. Barrier hit Griffin for his second Eagles touchdown with 3:45 still left in the first stanza but the extra point sailed wide and Rusk trailed CHS 14-13.
Cross scored on a 14-yard keeper run for a touchdown and another Hernadez extra point gave CHS a 21-13 advantage with 2:04 left first quarter. Barnett returned the ensuing kickoff 77 yards to the Center 8-yardline. On the next play Barrier rushed in for another Eagles score and RHS trailed 21-20 at the end of the first period.
Cross hit Colby Lout for a 16-yard touchdown reception and Edwin Rodriguez-Moreno kicked the extra point to extend the ‘Riders lead to 28-20 with 9:59 left in the second quarter. Next ‘Rider Jermain Hunter scooped up an Eagles fumble and returned it for a score to give CHS a 35-20 lead with 8:22 left in the third frame. The next Eagle drive stalled and with 3:12m left Cross raced into the endzone from 5 yards out for a CHS touchdown and gave Center a 42-20 lead with 3:12 left in the first half.
Barrier scored another Eagles touchdown on a pass from Griffin and cut Center’s lead to 42-27.
Carlos Hernandez kicked a 36-yard field goal with just three seconds left in the first half to give Center a 45-27 advantage at the midway break.
Two Dixon touchdown rushes in the third quarter helped CHS hold on to their lead and CHS held a 59-41 lead at the end of the third quarter of play.
Barnett returned an intercepted Center pass for a Rusk touchdown to cut Center’s lead to 59-48 with 11:45 left in the game. Center went up when Cross hit Wilburn for a 53-yard scoring strike that helped CHS take a 66-48 lead with 11:18 left to play. Dixon scored on a 12-yard run to extend the ‘Rider’s lead to 73-48 with 8:44 remaining. Rusk fumbled moments later and then Hernandez nailed a 30-yard field goal at the 4:25 mark of the final period for the games final score. Center won 76-48.
The Roughriders have a bye date for next Friday and they will next play Van High School at Vandals Stadium on October 13th.
