Central football team improves to 2-0
Sophomore Mason Loan scored three touchdowns—one each on offense, defense and special teams—in Central’s 66-0 victory over Central City on Sept. 4. (Photo by Jarod Bormann)
Jamison Feickert earned 15 yards—including a 4-yard touchdown—on four rushing attempts. (Photo by Jarod Bormann)
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
The Central football team improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in eight-man District 4 play with a resounding 66-0 victory over visiting Central City on Sept. 4.
“Everything was clicking for us, but our defense played especially well,” shared Central head coach J.W. Downs. “One of the things I was most proud of was the lack of mental mistake penalties.”
Mason Loan started the scoring early, returning the opening kick-off 70 yards to the end zone. It was one of three first-quarter touchdowns for the sophomore, who also had a 30-yard pick six and 34-yard run to help the Warriors go ahead 36-0.
“Mason Loan had a great overall game, with a touchdown on offense, defense and special teams,” Downs noted.
Central City turned the ball over four times in the first half alone, on two fumbles and two interceptions, and managed just 53 rushing yards against the stout Warrior defense.
Owen Hammersland led the Warriors with 9.5 total tackles, 3 of which were for a loss, and he recovered one fumble and intercepted a Wildcat pass. Braxton Bormann netted 5.5 tackles, including 2 for a loss, while Max Fettkether had 4.5 total tackles, Loan 3 and Braden Taylor 2.5. Garret Burns picked up a pair of tackles and recovered a fumble.
“What stood out the most was how well our defense played. They played with physicality, flew to the ball and were fundamentally sound,” Downs said.
The Warrior offense was equally impressive. Quarterback Griffen Hammersland completed three of four passes for 34 yards and respective 19- and 4-yard touchdowns to Jake Hertrampf and Bormann.
Owen Hammersland carried the ball 11 times for 74 yards and three touchdowns. Jamison Feickert earned 15 yards—including a 4-yard touchdown—on four attempts.
Downs acknowledged that this strong start is great for the Central program, “but we want to make sure we don’t get complacent. We want to keep the momentum going, but we will still continue to improve and build off the previous success.”
The showing was especially meaningful on youth night.
“It’s great to see such a strong future for our program, and to see how excited the young kids were to be a part of it. This also applies to all the youth coaches who helped make our pregame possible, as well as giving an opportunity to our young players,” Downs said.
The coach also put a plug in for his own coaching staff and managers “for all that they do on and off the field to not help just me, but the program as a whole.”
This week, Central will meet Calamus-Wheatland, who’s also off to a 2-0 start after wins over GMC and Cedar Ridge Christian. The game will begin at 5 p.m. at Calamus-Wheatland Elementary School on Friday, Sept. 12.
