Staff writer
A large, freshly-painted cougar paw print on the center of Cougar Field might have had something to do with the Centre High School football team’s first victory of the season Friday against Flint Hills of Rosalia. The Cougars defeated the Mustangs, 40-16.
It was largely a ground game for Centre.
The Cougars received the ball to start the game. Kyle Methvin ran 11 yards for a first down on the first play. After a carry by Shane Methvin and a run by Houston Svoboda for another first down, Kyle Methvin carried the ball 16 yards for a touchdown. The conversion attempt failed, and Centre led, 6-0.
After Flint Hills turned the ball over on downs in its first possession, the Cougars again moved the ball down the field to double their score to 12.
After a long run to Centre’s 33 yard line and another pass reception and run to the 4-yard-line, Flint Hills scored a touchdown and the 2-point conversion, making the score 12-8.
The Cougars scored again in their next possession and added two conversion points to lead, 20-8, at the end of the quarter.
Centre was forced to punt in its first possession of the second quarter. Flint Hills scored again. After the conversion attempt failed, the score was 20-14.
In Centre’s last possession of the half, a player was tackled in the Cougars’ own endzone, giving Flint Hills a safety.
With 36 seconds remaining, Kyle Methvin kicked off. The Mustangs moved the ball to the 6-yard-line, but luckily, for the Cougars, time ran out, and they could not get into the end zone.
In the second half, Flint Hills did not score again, and Centre added 20 points. The clock had run down when Shane Methvin ended a 32-yard run for a touchdown and another 6 points.
In the fourth quarter, a block-in-the-back penalty negated a touchdown run by Kyle Methvin after he intercepted the ball on a Flint Hills pass. However, Svoboda carried the ball to the 3-yard-line on the next play, and he ran it in for a touchdown. After a successful conversion attempt, Centre led, 34-16.
After several more punts by both teams, Centre scored again, and the game ended with a 24-point victory for the Cougars.
Centre carried the ball 50 times for 286 yards compared to Flint Hills with 43 carries for 180 yards. Rushers were Kyle Methvin, 27-125; Shane Methvin, 12-111; and Svoboda, 11-60.
Centre’s only passing yards came on a throw from Kyle Methvin to Svoboda for 25 yards. Flint Hills gained 119 yards in the air.
The Methvin brothers each had one interception. Kordell Harding was a leading tackler.
Centre plays Friday at Elk Valley.