Dragons breathe fire in a blowout win over Rangers @CentralDragonFB @FH_Rangers

Tagged under: District 6, Gameday Hub, News

Connor Walker | September 8, 2021

Dragons running on the field for the home opener – Photo by Grant Long

Central set the tone for the game when after only a few plays, Devon Boyles had the first touchdown reception of the game on a 38 yard pass from Jeff Hoenstine. A botched extra point attempt then followed. That missed extra point didn’t slow down the Dragons as they cruised to a 46-15 win.

The ball would then change hands a few times after both teams were stopped by the opposing defenses and were forced to punt. When the ball came back to Central on their third drive, they worked their way down field until  Eli Lingenfelter finally was able to pull in the reception for the touchdown before the end of the first quarter. The offense stayed on the field for a 2-point conversion attempt to make up for the missed kick, but failed.

#9 Jake Poldiak dropping back to pass – Photo by Grant Long

The Rangers next possession was not a positive one. The Rangers had a penalty on first down, then were sacked on second down. Both teams played hot potato until the Rangers fumbled a snap that was then recovered by Jason Clark, who continues to be a nightmare for offenses; leading the Dragons in both sacks and hurries. The recovery was followed up in a drive that ended with an 18 yard pass to Hunter Smith.

The Rangers were not the only team to have a poor drive, as once the Dragons got the ball back after halting the Rangers, they got a massive sack on third down after a penalty bringing them 31 yards back from a first down. The Dragons punted, pinning the Rangers down at their 6. And after a short pass out to the flat for a few yards, by far the best overall athlete on the team, Damon Crully, would break big, making a 92 yard run for a touchdown that was followed up by a successful 2-point conversion attempt.

The next score came on the first few plays on the Dragons next drive, where the always-consistent Parker Gregg made a big play and scored on a 58 yard carry. The Dragons once again tried for the 2-point and  once again heard the refs call “no-good.”

As Central continued to push past the Forest hills defense, the next touchdown for the Dragons came with a 1:30 before the end of the half on a 2 yard quarterback scramble by Hoenstine for the score. They would fall back to the extra point this time and it was  successful.

A plague that continued throughout the game, a fumble on a botched snap by Forest Hills would be recovered by Central, which was be succeeded by a touchdown once the offense took the field by Hunter Smith on a 48 yard pass; this would be followed up by a missed kick to end the half.

Eli Lingenfelter lining up before the snap – Photo by Grant Long

The next touchdown would be scored deep into the third half by Boyles on a 25 yard pass from Hoenstine. The PAT by Averey Black was good.

Forest Hills  followed up with the last score of the game, a reception for Jeremy Burda from Jake Poldiak. Aaron Rodgers tacked on the extra point with a kick right down the middle.

The 4th quarter would not bear any more fruit for either team, both continuing to be stopped by the other until the game ended.

Future story lines to watch: Will the Dragons offense continue to put up these big numbers in the following week in Greater Johnstown? And will the Rangers find a way to pull some momentum out of their last win and put it forth against Central Cambria? Only time will tell…

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