MICHAEL HATCH
BURLESON —
The Burleson Centennial Spartans (2-0) remained unbeaten on the season by trouncing the visiting Krum Bobcats (1-1), 44-7, at Burleson Stadium on Friday night. Both teams are new programs entering their first year of varsity football. It showed at times during the game with penalties and turnovers, but there were also flashes of great play which bodes well for both, but especially for the Spartans.
The game certainly began well for Centennial. After holding the Bobcats to a three-and-out on their first possession, the Spartans wasted no time getting on the scoreboard.
Diminutive running back DeMarcus Williams scored on the opening offensive play, running around the right end and scampering 39 yards for the score. The kick failed and the Spartans led by six.
The Spartan defense continued to stymie the Krum offense. After an interception, the Spartans took over on the Bobcat 32. Two plays later, Williams scored again, this time from 12 yards out.
Krum had a hard time in the first quarter gaining any offensive momentum. Several procedure penalties and ineffective runs led to three consecutive punts. Krum was also hampered by having only 25 players, with most of the starters playing both ways.
With just under four minutes in the second, Centennial added to their point total on a 39-yard field goal by Ron Reid to extend its lead.
Right before the end of the first , Williams capped off a tremendous opening quarter, scoring again, this time from 14 yards out. Each score resulted from a short field and a quick strike offense with three to four plays in each scoring possession.
Krum wasn’t going away and began to get their offense on track in the second. Midway through the period the Bobcats began a drive at their own 33. Eight plays later the Bobcats had first-and-goal at the 9.
However, on third-and-goal from the 5, quarterback Caz Wojciak fumbled the ball on the snap and it was recovered by the Spartans.
Centennial took over with just under four minutes left and went to the pass. Quarterback Tanner Hodges went 4-of-4 hitting Doug Hopkins and Curtis Amos.
The latter finished off the drive with a tremendous diving catch in the corner of the end zone from 28 yards out. After the extra point, the Spartans led 30-0 at the half.
The third quarter didn’t have as much of the excitement of the first as neither team was able to muster much offensively.
The Bobcats were able to get on the board midway through the third.
Starting from their own 30, Krum used some strong runs by Wojciak and Brennan Ellis to move the ball near midfield.
On the fifth play of the drive, Wojciak took the ball around the right side, dodged a few tacklers, and ran 49 yards for the score to put the Bobcats on the board. It was their only score of the night.
Centennial was able to answer back twice in the fourth with a 3-yard pass from Hodges to his tight end Amos. The Spartans added the final score on a fumble recovery by Blake Dunham who scored from 21 yards out.
The Spartans look to remain unbeaten as they travel to take on Fort Worth Christian next week.
