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Kaden Dixon was responsible for two Center touchdowns Friday in the Riders 40-33 win against the Bullard Panthers. (Leon Aldridge photo/The Light and Champion)
The Bullard Panthers were fighting for their playoff lives Friday night, coming into the game with a 1-3 district record and assuming it would take three wins for the fourth seed.
The Center Roughriders spent the week getting ready to fight for playoff seeding, assuming it would take four wins for the third seed.
“It’s important to get to the playoffs in at least the third seed,” Coach Meeks said several weeks ago before the bye week. “District 7 has the Pleasant Grove Hawks, one of the four or five best teams in the state, and the likely one seed. No one wants to draw them in round one.”
The third seed from Center’s district will play District Seven’s second seed; unfortunately, that will be the Gilmer Buckeyes, a perennial power whom the Riders have never beaten.
“But even Buckeye fans will admit this year hasn’t been one of their best,” Center announcer Stephen Shires said last week. “They are 6-3; lost three games this year, which is three times more than usual. Center should be able to compete with them.”
Favored by nine points, Center took the opening possession. After two first downs and 96 seconds, senior QB “Cash” Cross hit speedy fellow senior Lance Wilburn for a 43-yard touchdown. Trusty Carlos Hernandez made the PAT: Center led 7-0.
Bullards’ first possession took five minutes and went 50 yards, converting two third downs and a fourth down. But on 4th and nine from the Rider 25, Center’s defense rushed senior quarterback Aiden Barrett, forcing him to throw the ball away and drawing an intentional grounding penalty. Center took over 15 yards further up-field at the 41-yard line.
Center produced three first downs to the red zone and first-and-ten at the 12-yard line. They moved the ball to the four and decided to go for it on 4th and two. But Center jumped off-sides, necessitating a 26-yard field goal attempt by Hernandez. It split the uprights for a 10-0 Roughrider lead.
On the next possession, Bullard faced a third and two at the 33-yard line. The Center defense held, stopping the Bullard ball carrier just short of the 35-yard line.
“We’ve seen some good Center defense so far,” Shires said. “As good as the units played all year.”
On first down, Cross was sacked for a ten-yard loss. Facing 2nd and 20 from the 44-yard line, Cross hit senior Timothy Johnson in the corner of the end zone for a picture-perfect touchdown pass.
“Simply one of the best passes of the year,” announcer Zach Jebsen said. “Good coverage, perfect route, perfect pass. Six points.”
Hernandez’ PAT was good. The quarter ended with Center leading 17-0.
Center’s defense held again forcing a punt early in the quarter.
Center’s drive began at the 30-yard line. The Riders converted one first down, but facing 2nd and long, Bullard pressured Cross and forced an interception that was returned to the Center 35-yard line.
Bullard had a big first down run to the Center red zone, and two plays later Logan Smith scored the Panther’s first touchdown. The PAT made it 17-7 with 8:24 to go in the second.
On the next possession, Kaden Dixon made a 32-yard run to the Bullard 35. Two first downs later, Dixon scored on a two-yard touchdown run. The Roughriders went for two and converted, but a false start took the points off the board. Hernandez’ long PAT was good—what a surprise— and Center led 24-7 with 5:24 until halftime.
Bullard took over at the 40-yard line. On the first play, Barrett hit junior tight end Campbell Pawlak for 52 yards to the Center 12-yard line. But the Roughrider defense held them on two run plays. On third down, Center’s pass rush moved Barrett straight back, causing another intentional grounding call to bring up 4th down and 33 yards to go. Center held, taking over at the 21-yard line.
“Another excellent defensive stand,” Coach Meeks said after the game. “Was proud of our defense all four quarters.”
On the third play, Cross hit T.J. Belen for 50 yards to the Bullard 25-yard line. Two D’Calvion Edwards runs later, the score was 30-7 with 2:55 left until half.
Center missed its first PAT attempt of the season when Cross mishandled the snap.
The Panthers answered. After two first downs, Bullard’s Quasy Warren scampered 34 yards for the touchdown, making it 30-14 with 1:16 on the clock.
During the next drive, Cross was shaken up and had to leave the field. The new quarterback T.J. Belen handed the ball to Dixon who took it 40 yards to the Bullard 17-yard line. With four seconds remaining, Hernandez nailed a 35yard field goal to bring the halftime score to 33-14.
The Roughrider Band looked very sharp having just returned from its top-ten showing at the UIL state marching contest. And for the first time in three weeks, the Center twirlers performed.
“Our twirlers don’t get to perform on game days right before contests,” twirl sponsor Christina Smith explained. “So, they are excited to get back out there and perform, preparing for their own UIL twirl contest coming up in ten days.”
Shelby County’s Sweethearts, the CHS Chaparrals, were flawless in their pom routine to the song “High Class.”
The Bullard Band, another excellent East Texas military band, returned from contest as the state bronze medalists and executed their halftime drill with precision. And because it was the last performance at home this season, the Bullard dance line continued its tradition of performing with the dance line dads at halftime. Quite a show.
Bullard got the ball first to begin the half. On the first play, Barrett hit senior Clifford Douglas III on a 75-yard post route for a score. The two-point conversion attempt was short, but ten seconds into the half, the score was 33-20.
Cross came back as quarterback after the halftime break. After two plays for no gain, he got free for a 30-yard first down run. Center made two more first downs, then Dixon sprinted for a 17-yard touchdown run. PAT made it 40-20.
But after the half ’s first drive, the Center offense stalled. “We just stopped competing on offense,” Meeks said after the game. “We let some younger players play, but the effort was just missing. Our defense never let up, but the offense? It was frustrating.”
The third quarter ended with the score at 40-20. Fortunately, Center’s defense stopped the next four Bullard drives. Starting quarterback Aiden Barrett was injured during the third quarter, and Crew Bowman, his replacement, struggled to get the offense moving.
With five minutes left however, Bowman and company drove for Bullard’s fourth touchdown. The 2-point conversion failed, making it 40-26.
On the next Center drive, the second down hand-off was fumbled, and with 3:20 to go in the game, Bullard got the ball back. It took them two minutes to cover the 35 yards to the endzone to make it 40-33, a one score difference game.
A Panther’s onside kick was well-executed, but Center fell on the ball, effectively ending the game.
“I wasn’t happy with the offensive effort in the second half,” Meeks said during postgame. “But there is good news—we’re one win away from a return to the playoffs. There’s plenty to do, but we’re excited about where we are right now.”
The win pushes Center’s district record to 3-2. The Brownsboro Bears will come to the final district game as 28-point underdogs on Friday, November 4th.
A win will guarantee Center’s spot as the district’s third seed.