Up, up and away
SOUTH CENTRE TWP. — Everything Central Columbia attempted to achieve this season came to fruition in a two-minute span in the second quarter Friday night.
The Blue Jays put together an offensive scoring drive, had a three-and-out on defense and gave the crowd fireworks to go with the consistent rain on a punt return to help put Athens away, 28-14.
Central, trying to establish its running game in the wet conditions, scored the game's first touchdown through the air. Facing a fourth-and-5, Ryan Hons connected with Eli Book on an over-the-shoulder pass in the corner of the end zone.
The defense then continued to settle in and make life hectic for Conner Davidson and the Wildcats. No matter the play, the Blue Jays were there to close running lanes or get in Davidson's face for a sack or rushed throw. If not, the Wildcats often were their own worst enemy, finding laundry on the turf and getting a good number of big plays called back.
The Wildcats were held to under 3 yards an offensive snap.
"Our defense played outstanding and I'm really happy with how they played," Central coach EJ Smith said. "They hustled after the football and that's the thing we've been preaching. I thought our corners had the best game all year."
With the defense doing its job, Aiden Huntington then did his duties on special teams, returning the ensuing punt back 57 yards for a touchdown.
The Blue Jays' other first-half points came via a 21-yard field goal by Maguire Blake on their first possession. Central handed the ball off to seven different carriers on the drive, but were stalled inside the 10. Blake also had a 30-yard field goal in the third quarter after the Jays were again stuffed in the Wildcats' 10.
Maybe feeling content with a three-score lead late in the first half, Huntington later fumbled a punt that was recovered by Keegan Congdon. The Wildcats took up a 10-play, 53-yard drive that was capped off by Connor Davidson's 9-yard reception.
Those woes spread to other phases of the Blue Jays.
On the next offensive drive, Caius Morrow threw an interception, but a costly penalty kept the Wildcats from doing anything to close out the half.
The same thing occurred in the fourth. Having the chance to drain the clock, Barron Oyar had his fumble recovered by Athens' Karson Sipley. They escaped the scare with Huntington intercepting Davidson.
The Jays took no chances in letting the Wildcats back in it by having Hons throw his second TD of the game, this time a contested catch by Jaxson Hoffman for a 47-yard catch and run. Hoffman also had an interception three defensive plays later.
Hons finished 5 of 11 with 88 yards and two TDs. Despite attempting to run the ball all night long, nobody rushed for 40 yards for the Jays.
Still, the Wildcats weren't done. Backed up in his own end zone, Kole Hummer had his punt blocked and Sean Peters fell on it for the game's last points. They successfully recovered the onside kick, but were stuffed one last time by the suffocating Blue Jays defense.
It was the classic case of better late than never for Central, which recorded its first win of the year in the penultimate game. An evidently relieved Smith hopes to clean up some of the ugly — nine penalties, two turnovers and another pair of fumbles — before taking on rival Bloomsburg, which is also seeking its second win.
"We had to wait so long for that win, but I'm disappointed in how we finished because the wheels started to come off," he said. "I'm proud of how the kids played, but I'm hoping to clean up the penalties and turnovers. We consistently shoot ourselves in the foot and give other teams second lives and I wish we'd stop doing that."
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