Central High School’s varsity football team was in an offensive slugfest with Prince Edward County High School during the Eagles’ homecoming night Friday, but then the Chargers made some defensive stops and their offense kept going en route to an incredible 87-46 victory.

“I tell you what, man, it was crazy,” Central Head Coach Will Thomas said of the point tally. “I was just figuring, I said, ‘They’re going to eventually stop us.’ And it wasn’t easy (to score), man. It was hard.”

The Chargers had pulled ahead by several touchdowns, but then the Eagles, no strangers to high-scoring games, mounted a comeback and drew within five points of the lead, 44-40, in a marathon third quarter.

“It was a time there where I thought we were going to have to score 87 just to win the ballgame, because that third quarter was the longest in the history of the world,” Thomas said.

Central’s offense was fueled by great execution up front and strong running from junior Dontae Crowder and sophomore T’zion Wilkerson.

James Ford, head coach of the Eagles (4-3), made a point to give credit to the Chargers offense.

“They ran their stuff,” he said. “We knew what they were running. Everyone in the stands knew what they were running, and they executed. And hats off to them. They beat us up front, and those backs, they found holes, and we came up short.”

Reflecting on the game overall, Thomas said, “You feel good about the offense. You don’t feel good about the defense. We didn’t play well again. Ben Spencer being out on defense hurt us. He kind of keeps us all together over there.”

Spencer, a senior, sprained his foot and did not practice this past week.

“So we kind of put him on offense, just left him on offense, because he’s our starting tight end,” Thomas said. “So, we just did offense with him because he means a lot to us here, and we were a little bit out of sorts.”

 

The coach made it clear, though, that the lack of Spencer is not the sole reason the Eagles were able to score 46 points.

“Those guys can score,” he said. “They’re just fast, and we’re not.”

What helped Central begin to pull away was a turnover by Prince Edward that halted the Eagles’ momentum and put the ball back in the possession of the Chargers’ potent offense.

 

“We got a turnover, and that was huge,” Thomas said. Later in the second half, “I think they got a little tired, and you know how that momentum goes. You get a little tired, and then when you’re losing, you get tired faster.”

With this victory, Central has now won four games in a row after starting the season 0-4.

Of the turnaround, Thomas said, “You’re happy, but then you’re thinking, man, we’ve got to do better. … Eventually, we’re going to play better defenses. Amelia’s defense is better.”

 

 

 

The Chargers (4-4) host Amelia County High School (6-1) next Friday at 7 p.m.