Centralia remained unbeaten after their 28-6 win at Jackson Heights. The Cobras would get their lone score of the game on the opening drive which lasted for the first 10:58 of the first quarter. The drive started on their own 31-yard line, but with multiple penalties by Jackson Heights, they produced 110 yards of offense. The drive was capped off by senior running back Alex Browning who got a rushing touchdown from three yards out to go up 6-0.

The Panthers’ defense coached by head coach Roger Holthaus would tighten up the rest of the game, and the offense would also respond. On their first drive of the game, their senior running back Drew Gibbs got a two-yard rushing touchdown to go up 7-6.

After a quick three-and-out, Centralia got another touchdown from Gibbs to go up 14-6 before the half. Centralia got a stop out of the break and got the ball back quickly. The Panthers got an explosive 58-yard rushing touchdown from their senior quarterback Trenton Talley to go up 21-6. Before the game ended, Gibbs found the endzone for a third time to put the dagger in Jackson Heights.

Gibbs finished the game with ten carries for 48 yards with his three touchdowns. Talley had 12 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown and was 2-for-5 with 14 passing yards. He also had an interception while playing defense. Talley is our “Player to Bank On” presented by Farmers State Bank.

Jackson Heights actually outgained Centralia on the day 261-248. The Panthers had just 91 yards of offense in the first half. However, Centralia averaged 8.4 yards per carry to Jackson Heights’ 4.5 yards per carry. The Cobras had three turnovers all of which were interceptions, and the Panthers didn’t turn it over once.

Centralia improves to 5-0 for the regular season and 2-0 in district play. The Panthers remain third in KPreps’ 1A rankings. They have a long bus ride to Garden Plain to take on the Owls next. As for Jackson Heights, they fall to 3-2 on the season and 0-2 in district play. They have the tough task of going to Troy who are ranked fifth in KPreps’ rankings.