Roughriders Stadium on Friday, August 27,2021 –
The visiting Tatum Eagles took an early 7-0 lead during the Center Roughriders varsity football home opener on Friday. A 35-yard scoring strike from Eagles quarterback Kendric Malone to Kendal Williams gave THS the lead with 5:13 left in the opening period. Tatum added another touchdown reception late in the fist quarter when Malone hit Remington O’Brien for a 9-yard score with just 24 seconds left in the first quarter.
A special team miscue by Center gave the Eagles a 21-0 lead when Jackson Richardson picked up a short punt and raced into the endzone early in the second period.
The Roughriders got on the scoreboard when Da’nijhalon Gipson raced 72 yards for a touchdown on the ensuing kickoff. An extra point kick by Carlos Hernandez helped cut the THS lead to 21-7 with 11:22 remaining in the second stanza.
Malone hit Jayden Boyd for another Tatum touchdown reception with 6:36 left in the first half and the Eagles gained a 28-7 advantage.
Center later cut the Eagle’s lead to 28-14 when sophomore quarterback Emonte Cross scored on a keeper run from 1 yard out to cap a 69-yard CHS scoring drive with just 37 seconds left in the first half.
The Eagle’s ballooned their lead to 55-14 by the 2:12 mark of the third quarter. Center scored first in the final quarter when Cross completed a touchdown pass to cut the THS lead to 55-20 with 10:49 left in the final quarter. Gipson later scored from 40 yards away for Centers’ final score with 4:12 remaining and Tatum led 61-26 at that point.
The Eagles made the final score to take a 68-26 lead with 1 minute remaining which held up for the final score.
Center’s regular season record stands at 0-1. They will host the Jefferson Bulldogs on Friday, September 3, 2021 for the Roughrider’s Homecoming with kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m.
