August 27, 2016 - Album1, Album2 On Friday, the Center Roughriders hosted the Rusk Eagles in both team’s first varsity football game of the regular season, as well as Centers’ Senior Night. These teams were past district opponents and the Roughriders ultimately came out with a 27-21 victory over the Eagles.
The Roughriders scored first on a one-yard touchdown run by senior running back Jamoine Nash with 3:53 left in the first quarter. But it didn’t take long for the Eagles to bounce back. The Eagles took only one play to find the end zone themselves after a pass from Senior quarterback Jake Huggins found Johnathan Long for the 18-yard score.
The second quarter saw the Roughriders score first when senior quartrback Kyle Parks found Octavius Evans on a 12-yard touchdown pass completion.
‘Rider JaCarlos Hall took a handoff 39 yards past a confused Rusk defense for the touchdown later in the period, this gave Center a 21-14 advantage.
Rusk answered when Huggins found sophomore Semaj Johnson for the 17-yard touchdown.
Rusk started out the fourth quarter with a muffed punt which allowed the Roughriders to score later after another touchdown completion from Parks to Evans. The ‘Riders lead was extended to 27-14 with 7:44 left to play.
The Eagles Huggins scored on a touchdown on a quarterback keeper with 1:26 left in the game to pull RHS to within 21-27.
Kyle Parks next found room to run for a first down which helped seal the victory for his team.
The Roughriders will travel to Gilmer, next Friday, for a 7:30 p.m. with the Buckeyes.
Gilmer went 14-1 last season before suffering a 49-44 loss to Celina High School. Center and Gilmer met up in the 2015 playoffs, at the regional round, with Gilmer winning by a 36-21 score.
