Hallsville Bobcats Stadium on Friday, November 11, 2022 –
The Center Roughriders varsity football team won Their UIL Football Bi-district round playoff over the Liberty Eylau Leopards by a 67-21 score. The Roughriders arenow 8-3 overall this season and they will next face the Aubrey Chapparals (9-2)next week in an area round playoff. Aubrey beat Lincoln High by a 63-12 score to advance.
The Leopards scored first when senior quarterback Jaydin Hampton found junior fullback W.T. Jones for a 7-yars touchdown reception which helped put LEHS up 7-0 with 10:10 minutes left in the first quarter.
The Roughriders answered back at the 9:43 mark of the first frame with a 41-yard touchdown run by junior runningback Kaden Dixon. Junior kicker Carlos Hernandez tied the game at 7-7 with an extra point kick.
The Leopards next drive stalled and they had to punt the football back to Center with five minutes remaining in the opening frame. Center went 55 yards in 10 plays for their next score. Dixon scored his second touchdown on a 3-yard run to help give CHS a 14-7 advantage with 3:59 left in the first period.
Another Leopards offensive drive stalled and senior ‘Rider Tre McGee was able to block a Leopards punt attempt which saw the football bounce out the back of the endzone for a 2-point safety giving Center a 16-7 advantage. Liberty Eylau then kicked the ball back to CHS on a free-kick which saw Dixon and return the pigskin back to the Leopards 8-yard line. Dixon later scored his third touchdown on a short run which gave CHS a 23-7 advantage with 1:56 left in the first period.
Three more scores by Center in the second stanza saw the game getting out of reach for LEHS as Center took a 44-15 lead as the teams went to the lockerroom at the midway intermission.
Damp cold conditions escalated in the second half but Center still outpaced Liberty Eylau by a 23-6 margin but more importantly they were able to gain the yards needed to keep the clock moving when needed to preserve the win.
