Ed-Co foils Central in first game
Quarterback Griffen Hammersland searches for a receiver in the Warriors’ loss to the Vikings.(Photos by Bev Hamann)
Kyle Reinhart returns a kickoff in Central’s football season opener versus Ed-Co on Aug. 30.
Maddux Eglseder receives the opening kickoff in the Aug. 30 game against Ed-Co.
Owen Hammersland slips past a defender in Central's season opener.
By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register
The Dittmer Sports Complex was abuzz Aug. 30, for Central Warriors football under the lights. A healthy crowd packed the bleachers and surrounded the fence, taking in the atmosphere as the Central cheerleaders pumped up the crowd and the marching band performed the national anthem, all in anticipation of the Warriors running onto the field to Motley Crue’s “Kickstart my Heart.”
This season is one of newness for Central, with a new head coach, new uniforms and new hype around the program. There were high fives, helmet slaps of encouragement and plenty of “let’s go” moments for the team and coaching staff, now led by J.W. Downs. As they looked across the field at the Edgewood-Colesburg Vikings, there was an overwhelming sense that victory was possible.
The Warriors got off to a good start, after Kyle Reinhart fielded the opening kickoff and ran it back for a good chunk of yards. The team lined up with a new leader behind center, with Griffen Hammersland guiding the Warriors from the pocket. The opening play was a run, aided by a face mask penalty on the Vikings. Two downs later, Central secured a first down on a running play up the middle, followed by another run by Braxton Bormann, who bounced off a couple of tackles. But what started as a promising opening drive came to a screeching halt when Hammersland missed an open receiver, leading to a Vikings interception.
On defense, the Warriors were spurred on by fans, but it was just a few plays later when an Ed-Co receiver got by the defender and scored the game’s first touchdown, followed by a successful two-point conversion.
The Warriors’ second series also got off to a promising start, with a kickoff return across midfield by Reinhart, though a holding penalty negated it. Despite the setback and a near fumbled handoff, Central strung together a few plays, converting a second and long situation on a deep pass by Hammersland. Hammersland ran for another first down on a third and four, but the drive stalled on the following play on a broken up pass on fourth down.
A succession of misfortune followed for the Warriors, as the Vikings ran the ball up the middle for a touchdown on the first play of the drive, extending the lead to 16-0.
Central faced another fourth down situation on the ensuing drive, with Bormann being stopped, resulting in another turnover on downs. The Vikings again ran the ball into the end zone on the first play.
The next drive for the Warriors started with a minimal gain on the kickoff, followed by a Hammersland interception that was retuned for a touchdown. A Central punt followed, which the Vikings ran in for a touchdown. With 7:48 left in the second quarter, the Warriors trailed 40-0.
Though the Central cheerleaders kept cheering and the passionate fans kept chanting, “Let’s go red,” the second half was another barrage of points for the Vikings, who gained 308 yards rushing and 105 yards passing on their way to a 66-6 victory.
The Warriors will look to get back on track against the Don Bosco Dons this Friday night, Sept. 6.
