CENTRAL (3-0) RIDES DEFENSE

WEST MEMPHIS -- Little Rock Central used a blitzing, opportunistic defense and doused a final West Memphis comeback for a 17-12 victory at Hamilton-Shultz Field.nd doused a final West Memphis comeback for a 17-12 victory at Hamilton-Shultz Field. The Tigers defense recorded eight tackles for lost yardage against West Memphis, and they forced three turnovers. "We've got some quickness and speed on defense," Little Rock Central Coach Ellis "Scooter" Register said. "We've been bringing pressure all year, and tonight I thought our defense played really well in the second half." Central (3-0) led 17-0 late in the third quarter, but West Memphis (2-1) got an interception return for a touchdown from junior safety Anthony Hite and then a 9-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Michael Troxler with 5:25 to play. The Tigers looked poise to put the game away with less than one minute to play in the game, but junior Donald Richardson lined up at quarterback, picked up a first down at the West Memphis 19, but fumbled. West Memphis recovered, but the Blue Devils could not capitalize. Central forced West Memphis into a 4th-and-12 situation, and Tigers sophomore Avont Harris made a leaping interception with 19 seconds left to play to seal the victory. One of the three turnovers forced by Central turned out to be the difference. Central led 3-0 after Jason Ronnel's 42-yard first-quarter field goal, but the Blue Devils drove to the Central 2 after a 66-yard reception by Steven Stone. On first down, West Memphis' Martavious Thomas mishandled the exchange from the quarterback and Central's Marvin Ashford scooped it up and raced 95 yards for a touchdown. Central led at halftime 10-0. "We should have been ahead 7-3 at halftime and instead it's 10-0," West Memphis Coach Billy Elmore said. "That definitely hurt." Central also blocked two West Memphis field-goal attempts and an extra-point attempt. The Blue Devils were held to 44 yards rushing in the first half. The Tigers' only offensive touchdown came on an eight-play, 80-yard drive, which ended with quarterback Jacob Howard hitting Marlo Thompson for a 9-yard touchdown pass. West Memphis cut the Central deficit to 17-6 when Hite intercepted a Howard pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown with 1:23 left in the third quarter. The Blue Devils offense made it inside the Central 20 on three occasions. West Memphis' second touchdown, which came on Troxler's touchdown pass, was set up after a failed fourth-down gamble by Register at the Tigers 37 when Oscar Adaway was stopped short of the first-down marker. "Bonehead call by the head coach," Register said with a smile. "Fortunately we escaped, though."

Central High School Athletics

CENTRAL (3-0) RIDES DEFENSE

Photo Credit: Democrat-Gazette