Published: September 05, 2009 07:26 pm      

Dramatic turnaround

Central High turns the tables in season opener

CENTRAL HIGH — It was during the third quarter that one of Central High’s statisticians proclaimed “What a difference a year can make.”

Mountain View-Gotebo was probably thinking the same thing.

The Bronchos exploded into the 2009 season with a 58-36 win over the Tigers Friday night. It was a dramatic turnaround from last season, when Central High lost to the same team 52-6.

“That was what I was hoping for,” Central High coach Glennis Ring said. “They got out there and got after it. There was also a mental part, this team beat them by whatever score last year and finished the game by halftime. And they had the same players back.

“It was really a big win for us. The mind game was probably bigger than anything.”

Mountain View started the game off strong, converting a fourth-and-12 stand with a 12-yard run. The drive stalled as senior Chuck Hile made a key defensive play on another fourth down conversion.

The Bronchos were unable to generate anything on their first defensive series and things got worse when Mountain View-Gotebo blocked a punt which was converted into a touchdown. The Tigers converted two points for an 8-0 lead.

Central High came back strong with quarterback Kyler Newton flying to the end zone on a 40-yard run. After an extra point fake to Antonio King, the game was tied at eight going into the second quarter.

Mountain View went to the passing game, throwing a 30-yard touchdown pass to pull ahead. The tigers then held the Bronchos in the next possession as they looked to be keeping momentum. A fumble recovery by Hile and a 40-yard run by Tyler Matthesen tied the game back up at 16, which stood up at the end of the half.

The Tigers recovered a fumble on the 20-yard line to start the second half but did not capitalize as the Broncho defense held.

Newton came out with the passing game, connecting with Jeremy Russell on a 27-yard pass, Bryce Spencer for five yards, King for 10 yards, and finished up the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run. The conversion failed, leaving the score set at 22-16 early into the third quarter.

Hile and the Bronchos defense held the Mountain View offense, only to see the Tigers recover a fumble and bring it in for 34-yard touchdown. With a strong defensive hold on the conversion, the score remained tied at 22.

The score was not tied for long as Antonio King returned the kick for a touchdown. Newton connected with Russell for the two-point conversion making it 30-22.

Momentum was back on Central High’s side as the Broncho defense came out strong as Garrett Browning recovered a fumble. Midway into the third quarter Newton and Russell hooked up for third time resulting in to another 25-yard touchdown breaking the game open 36-22.

With the offense making the game a two-possession game, Central High was not about to let up. Browning recovered a fumble to give the ball back to the offense.

Newton and Russell went back to work, connecting on a 20-yard touchdown pass. With a conversion run by Bradley Lowry, the Bronchos ended the third quarter with a 44-22 lead.

Newton lead his team out after another defensive stand, breaking loose for a 34-yard run and ending the drive with an eight yard touchdown pass to Quisenberry for a 50-22 lead.

The Tigers clawed their way back with a 71-yard kick return for a score followed by a two conversion making it a 50-30 game.

The Central High offense committed to the ground game on the next possession, taking the air out of the ball by running the clock.

The Bronchos drove the ball down the field and Newton took the final honors, scoring from two yards out. A conversion pass across the middle to Spencer made the score 58-30.

Mountain View scored a touchdown in the last minute to close the gap to 58-36, which would be the final score.

Central High head coach Glennis Ring said that his team played extremely well and that he was pleased with his men.

“We played with reckless abandonment on offense and defensively we ran to the ball very well.” Ring said. “I was real pleased, I thought we definitely played hard.”