Central's Second Game Brings Victory

Central Scarlet Dragons secured a 20-13 victory over the Somerset Golden Eagles on Friday, August 30 and overcame a slow start. Eli Muthler contributed to two Central touchdowns, while his teammate, Jay Hoenstine made eight receptions for 112 yards.

“Our defense has been outstanding in the first two weeks,” Central Coach Jerry Albright said. “I challenged our linemen at halftime, telling them that if we were going to turn things around, it would be won in the trenches, and they stepped up to that challenge.”

Central’s second-half began with a play that set the tone for the remainder of the matchup.

With the score tied at seven as they emerged from halftime, Central wasted no time in making a statement.

On the very first offensive snap of the third quarter, quarterback Muthler delivered a perfect pass to Hoenstine on a curl route. Hoenstine shook off his defender, sprinting 45 yards to the end zone, a pivotal moment that shifted the momentum squarely in Central’s favor.

Muthler was the driving force behind Central’s offense, battling through a fierce Somerset pass rush. Despite the pressure, he managed to complete 11 of his 24 passes, using his mobility to evade defenders and keep crucial plays alive, earning him the title of Player of the Game.

Meanwhile, the often-overlooked contributions of punter Adam Loucks, played a significant role in Central’s victory. Loucks consistently flipped the field, showcasing his powerful leg with five punts totaling 210 yards, averaging 42 yards per punt. His ability to pin Somerset deep in their own territory was invaluable, making him the unsung hero of the night.

Next week Central will visit Tyrone.

Records: Central (1-1), Somerset (0-2)

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Central 7 0 13 0 — 20

Somerset 7 0 0 6 — 13

First Quarter

S–Parry 55 pass from Lambert (Antram kick) 8:47.

C–Beach 1 run (Steele kick) 5:21.

Second Quarter

No scoring.

Third Quarter

C–Hoenstine 45 pass from Muthler (Steele kick) 11:39.

C–Hoenstine 3 pass from Muthler (kick failed) 5:11.

Fourth Quarter

S–Lowery 8 run (kick failed) 7:56

TEAM STATISTICS C

First downs: 8

Total Net Yards: 215

Rushes-yards: 14-76

Passing: 139

Comp-Att-Int: 11-24-0

Punts: 210

Fumbles-Lost: 0-0

Penalties-Yards: 5-40

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - Central, Muthler 4-6, Beach 8-59, Mickel 2-11

PASSING – Central, Muthler 11-24-0-139

RECEIVING– Central, Hoenstine 8-112, Beach 2-26, Musei 1-1.