CENTERVILLE, Ind. – One stop and then execute.
That’s all that was needed.
That’s exactly what the Centerville football team got Friday night as the Bulldogs defeated Lincoln 25-14 in a Tri-Eastern Conference contest on Craig Field.
“It’s for the kids,” Centerville Head Coach Kyle Padgett said of his team that is now 1-3 overall and 1-1 in the TEC. “That’s all I care about. Seeing the smiles on their faces.”
“They worked hard and they got to see some results,” Padgett continued. “That’s the best part of this whole thing.”
Late in the final period the Golden Eagles led 14-13 as they were driving for another score in an attempt to put the game away with a first down inside the 5-yard line.
“They out played us at the end of the game,” Lincoln Head Coach Phil Renforth said. “When we needed to put the game away, we didn’t. That’s the bottom line.”
Instead of scoring, the Golden Eagles (0-4, 0-2) went the other way and would eventually turn the ball over on downs to the Bulldogs at the Centerville 17-yard line.
“We needed one stop,” Padgett said.
Then it was time for Centerville offense to take the field, but the Bulldogs were 83 yards away from a go ahead score.
“We’d seen something up top,” Padgett said. “Peyton VanWinkle kept his feet. An incredible play. Great pass protection. They executed something all around.”
Centerville quarterback Dylan Benedict hit VanWinkle over the middle and he was hit twice and stumbled, but he was able to recover to complete his 83-yard run to the end zone with 2:10 left in the game.
The Bulldogs were now on top 19-14.
On the ensuing kickoff, Centerville’s Dante Torres was able to get a touchback to put the Golden Eagles at their own 20-yard line.
On the next play, Centerville’s Kody Withham intercepted a pass from Lincoln’s Nick Cupp and he ran it back 36 yards for another score and the Bulldogs led 25-13 with 1:45 remaining.
“The MVP is our kicker Dante,” Padgett said. “He kept pinning them deep.”
Torres, who was celebrating his 16th birthday, averaged 41.6 yards on five punts and also ran 33 yards for a first down on a fake earlier in the contest.
It was the second straight week, the Golden Eagles had been hurt by a big play late in the game.
“It’s frustrating,” Renforth added. “To really pretty much control the game for most of the game and to come out two scores down, that doesn’t make any sense.”
Lincoln fell 19-14 last Friday, after Tri scored on a kickoff return in the fourth quarter.
Centerville Takes Early Lead
Witham scored on a 1-yard run with 2:06 on the clock in the opening period. Sophie Neher added the PAT and it was 7-0.
Lincoln was able to respond to take an 8-7 advantage by halftime.
Chase Southerland scored on a 19-yard pass from Cupp at 8:18 of the second quarter. Cupp followed with a two-point conversion run to put the Golden Eagles in front.
Both teams scored in the third quarter.
Centerville’s Cole Cooper grabbed a 9-yard pass from Benedict to give the Bulldogs a 13-8 lead.
Cupp ran into the end zone from 12 yards out to put the Golden Eagles ahead 14-13 at the 2:23 mark of the third.
Reese Vandevender led the Bulldogs with 41 yards rushing, while Benedict completed 6-of-15 passes for 147 yards. VanWinkle led the Centerville receiver with two grabs for 95 yards.
Matt Fields led Lincoln with 98 yards on the ground with Cupp adding 80. Cupp was 7-of-19 on pass attempts for 108 yards. Caleb Craig entered the contest at quarterback when Cupp was fighting through an injury to connect on 5-of-9 passes for 42 yards. Southerland led the Golden Eagles with five catches for 52 yards.
Defensively for the Bulldogs, the previously mentioned Witham and Peyton Hobson and James Jones had interceptions. The pick by Jones was on the goal-line at the end of the first half to stop a Lincoln drive.
Craig also had an interception for the Golden Eagles.
The teams return to action next with TEC game next Friday. Centerville travels to Union City, while Lincoln entertain Winchester.
Box Score
Lincoln 0 8 6 0 – 14
Centerville 7 0 6 12 – 25
Scoring
First Quarter
C–Kody Witham 1 run, 2:06 (Sophie Neher kick)
Second Quarter
L–Chase Southerland 19 pass from Nick Cupp, 8:18 (Cupp run)
Third Quarter
C–Cole Cooper 9 pass from Dylan Benedict, 9:31 (kick failed)
L–Cupp 12 run, 2:23 (pass failed)
Fourth Quarter
C–Peyton VanWinkle 83 pass from Benedict, 2:10 (kick failed)
C–Witham 36 interception return, 1:45 (run failed)
Team Statistics
First downs- L 18; C 10.
Rushes-yards- L 39-241; C 26-113.
Passing yards- L 150; C 147.
Comp-att-int.- L 12-28-3; C 6-15-1.
Punts-Avg.- L 2-34.0; C 5-41.6.
Fumbles-Lost- L 1-0; C 0-0.
Penalties-yards- L 8-40; C 4-35.
Individual statistics
Rushing- L: Matt Fields 16-98, Nick Cupp 10-80, Jeremiah Holder 12-63, Blaine Cowan 1-0. C: Reese Vandevender 7-41, Kody Witham 7-27, Dylan Benedict 7-7, James Jones 2-3, Dante Torres 1-33, J’von Mayberry 1-2, Peyton Hobson 1-0.
Passing- L: Cupp 7-19-108-1-3, Caleb Craig 5-9-42-0-0. C: Benedict 6-15-147-2-1.
Receiving- L: Chase Southerland 5-52, Cowan 2-20, Hunter Ferris 2-19, Holder 2-16, Fields 1-43. C: Peyton VanWinkle 2-95, Cole Cooper 2-25, Witham 1-21, Tyler Rodandello 1-6.