Springdale Central wins opener over George
Posted on Friday, September 5, 2008
SPRINGDALE - Central and George Junior Highs kicked off their football seasons on Thursday night at Bulldog Stadium in Springdale. While the Wranglers of George were the host, it was the Warriors of Central that stole the show, winning the game in a 27-0 shutout.
Defense and special teams were stout for Central in the victory as the Warriors had two punt returns for touchdowns and an interception for a touchdown.
"That is a luxury that we have because with our speed and quickness we are going to be good defensively and on special teams," Central coach Fred Hartsfield said.
Both teams traded possessions in the first quarter and the score was still 0-0 going into the second. The Warriors struck quickly in the second with a 61-yard punt return for a touchdown by Brandon Jansen.
"Brandon is just a little jitterbug when he gets in the open field," Hartsfield said.
Central's defense played well the entire game not allowing a first down by the Wranglers.
Two-way player Jon Vaughn intercepted a pass early in the second quarter that he took 30 yards to paydirt to give the Warriors a 13-0 lead.
Jansen struck again a few minutes later, scampering 40 yards on a punt return before fumbling the ball at the 30-yard line. Lawton Eastep then picked up the ball and ran it in for a touchdown giving the Warriors a 20-0 lead with nearly five minutes left in the second quarter.
Vaughn set the final score late in the third quarter with a 38-yard touchdown pass to Preston Pianalto. Pianalto also had six carries for 35 yards on the ground.
The Wranglers came close to breaking a punt return of their own for a touchdown when Omar Verde scrambled for 56 yards late in the third quarter. The momentum was stopped on the next play when George fumbled the ball back to Central.
"We've got to get mentally tougher and we have to learn to overcome mistakes," George coach Kale Eaton said. "We have to learn how to capitalize when something good happens as well."
The Wranglers defense held tough the entire game only giving up 81 yards and one touchdown to the Warriors.
"We had a good defensive scheme tonight," Eaton said. "When you play someone 0-0 after a quarter you know the defense is hanging tight."
Central also won the eighth grade game as well, 8-0.
The George Wranglers play Rogers Heritage at home next week. The Central Warriors play Woodland at Southwest Junior High.
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