Start of District Play, Central Wildcats host long time rival Zachary Broncos
What started as a defensive game the first half turned into a power of offenses the second half.
Friday night at The Cat House, Central hosted long time rival the Zachary Broncos to start 4-5A district play. What would start as a defensive slugfest in the first half, saw multiple turnovers by both teams. The lone score in the first half was a 37 yard field goal by the Bronco’s (3-0 Zachary) with 3:14 left in the 2nd quarter.
Zachary had three turnovers in the first quarter as they struggled to get their offense going early. Central however could not able to capitalize, as the Bronco defense would hold firm and turn them back each time.
As the teams came out for the second half, Central would score on their first offensive possession. Central’s quarterback Max Gassiott would complete a 41 yard pass play to Brody Diel that would then set up a 8 yard quarterback keep to take the lead 7-3 (10:21 3rd quarter).
But that would be short lived as Jacori Platt, Zachary’s quarterback, would then march the Bronco’s down the field and find senior wide receiver Trikoby Rheams on a short pass over the middle. Rheams would then scamper 42 yards, avoiding would be tacklers, for the touchdown at the 7:23 mark in the 3rd quarter to bring the score to 7-10 Broncos. The Bronco’s would force a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. Platt and company would not waste any time finding the endzone again at the 4:45 mark of the third quarter to extend their lead 7-17 Broncos. (Platt to Rheams 18 yard pass play, Patton 10 yard rushing touchdown)
Central wasn’t done though as the offense would close the Bronco lead to 14-17 with 9:41 left in the game on a scramble by Gassiott.
The Bronco would then lean to their run game and the quick feet of senior running back Jeremey Patton to run the clock. Patton would add his second touchdown of the night at the 9:14 mark of the fourth quarter with a 30-yard rushing touchdown to put the Bronco’s back up by 10, 14-24 Broncos. Patton would end his night with 34 carries for 234 yards and two touchdowns, with 127 of those yards coming in the second half with the two touchdowns.
With 6:50 left in the game, Platt would find a Ethan Kimme streaking down the sideline for a 40 yard strike to extend the Bronco lead to 31-14.
2027 WR Ethan Kimme – Zachary
Central looked to go with their hurry up offense late in the fourth quarter. The Bronco defense stepped up again when Gassiott was picked off by Travis Barber III at the 16, with 4:26 left in the game.
Zachary would then grind out the clock with their run game. Central would score late in the fourth quarter to close the gap to 21-31 but it was a little to late as the Bronco’s would take home the win.
Broncos move to 4-2 on the season with 1-0 in district play. Central falls to 3-3 with 0-1 in district play. (Next up for the Wildcats is Catholic-B.R. October 23rd at Memorial Stadium)
Interception, Fumble Recovery – Dylan Thompson Central
Interception – Harlem Lindsey Central
Interception – Travis Barber III Zachary
More to come —->
