Shaw, CMS 7th rumble past Lumberjacks, 14-0
Thursday night's game at Roughrider Stadium. CMS won the game,
14-0. (Photo by John Krueger)
CENTER -- The Center Roughrider 7th grade used the 'short field' to its advantage Thursday night as Johnny Shaw sparked CMS to a 14-0 victory over Diboll here on a sloppy Roughrider Stadium field Thursday night.
Rain all week caused conditions to worsen quickly as coaches agreed to run the clock more freely to keep from damaging the field more than necessary.
The Roughriders took control early on, thanks to Shaw. Shaw took the opening kickoff back 28 yards, so Center set up shop on the Diboll 49-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Shaw took a handoff off left tackle and headed toward the sideline and in for the touchdown. There was a fumble on the two-point conversion, but CMS was ahead 6-0 with 4:25 remaining in the opening period.
The Lumberjacks had all kinds of trouble moving the football on their first drive. Taking over on their own 33, they quickly began moving backwards because of penalties and tough defense by Center. They were faced with a 4th-and-25 situation back on the 18, and the snap from center on the punting situation went over the kicker's head and the punter jumped on the ball back on the 'Rider four.
Two plays later, C.J. Garner bulled his way into the endzone behind the blocks of Damien McNeal and Alec Lucas on the left side of the line and Center had its second score just after the start of the second quarter. Shaw tacked on the 2-point conversion around the left end, giving the Roughriders a 14-0 lead with 5:06 still remaining in the first half.
Diboll tried to move the ball just before intermission, but Kamden Owens picked off a throw to keep the 'Jacks from getting anything started.
Both teams only received one possession in the second half. Diboll's try began at the Lumberjack 30 and ended on the Center 35 when the 'Jack running back was stopped nine yards short of a first down.
Center's offense sputtered somewhat near the end of the period. But after the Roughriders punted, the Diboll returner fumbled and CMS recovered. From that point on the 'Riders were able to run out the clock.
The Roughriders finished the game with only 60 total yards, but needed only 10 plays offensively to score their 14 points. The CMS defense held the Lumberjacks to just 12 yards of total offense, while forcing a pair of turnovers.
The Roughriders will return to action next Thursday when they visit Rusk at 5 p.m.