Center Roughriders Stadium on Friday, September 9, 2022 –
The Center Roughriders varsity football team fell to the visiting North Desoto Griffins by a 71-42 final score on Friday. The Griffins took a 7-0 lead just 14 seconds into the contest when Cole Cory took the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to open the game. Sam Odom added the extra point kick.
Center fumbled the ball to the Griffins on their first drive but the Griffins returned the favor when they fumbled the ball back at the Center 1-yard line. With 10:22 minutes left in the first quarter, North Desoto’s Kaleb Carter recovered another Center fumble in the endzone and NDHS went ahead of Center by a 14-0 score. Carter recovered yet another fumble for the Griffins and they scored on a 12-play drive, and went up 21-0, with 4:19 left in the opening period. Lincoln Cooper scored on a blocked punt returned for a score which gave NDHS a 28-0 lead with 3:09 left in the first stanza.
Center got on the board when quarterback Emonte Cash Cross hit Christopher Marr Mar Evans for a 56-yard touchdown catch and run. A Debraylon Moore extra point kick pulled CHS to within three touchdowns of Desoto with the score at 28-7.
The second quarter saw Luke Delafield hit Landon Falls for a touchdown reception with 11:57 left. The Griffins led 35-7.
Center bounced back when Kaden Dixon scored from 11 yards out at the 8:33 mark to cut the Griffin’s lead to 35-14.
The Griffins led 43-14 after a Brian Banks touchdown with 6:12 left in the first half.
With 4:10 left before the intermission, Cross hit Evans for a 27-yard ‘Riders touchdown reception and the NDHS lead was cut to 43-21.
Another Griffins drive was thwarted when ‘Riders defensive back JaKeyvius Polk picked off a NDHS pass with just 30 seconds left until the midway break. The Griffins took a 43-21 lead into the second half of play.
The third quarter saw the Griffins add two touchdowns and take a 57-21 lead into the fourth quarter.
Center got two Evans scores with 11 minutes remaining and 5:36 which pulled them to within 71-35. TJ Davis also scored with 39 seconds remaining which put the final tally at North Desoto 71 Center 42.
The Roughriders win-loss record now stands at 2-1. Center will travel to Daingerfield next Friday, September 16, 2022 for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Tigers Stadium. Daingerfield is 2-1 and fell at home to the Timpson Bears by a 54-28 score on Friday.
