HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Indians move to 5-0
Sep. 17—Nathan Hutchinson
The Indians (5-0) didn't do much celebrating after they wrapped up the first half of the season with a solid victory over winless Lafayette on Friday in Richmond.
There was really more of a sense of relief.
"We are glad to get a win and move forward," Madison Central coach Mike Holcomb said of the 46-0 win on Homecoming. "We've got a week off (next week) and hopefully we can get rejuvenated and get ready for the last half of the season."
The Indians were without several key players — Brady Hensley, Kenyatta Hardge and Rylan Rhodes — and made plenty of mistakes, but still overpowered an overmatched opponent.
Jayden West had three touchdowns (two receiving, one on an interception return) and Brock Eads scored twice (once rushing and once on a kick-off return. The Indians out-gained the Generals 376-71 as they picked up their first shutout since Sept. 18, 2020 (also against Lafayette).
Central had a 28-0 lead at halftime, but committed a season-high 11 penalties, which cost them 113 yards.
"We've had a few penalties, but nothing like that," Holcomb said. "It's hard to get into a rhythm when there's a penalty on every other play."
The Indians fumbled on their first possession, then had a rash of first-half penalties.
West, though, gave Central a 7-0 lead with a 39-yard touchdown catch with 5:19 left in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Eads had a 3-yard TD run. West had a 34-yard TD catch and Travis Grant hauled in a 16-yard TD pass.
"It took us a while to get going," Grant said. "A lot of flags held up back. That's something we've got to clean up."
Eads had an 88-yard kickoff return for a TD to start the second half. West returned an interception 31 yards for a score and Patrick Moren connected on a 44-yard field goal.
Central held Lafayette to just four first down and only 2.1 yards a play.
Eads had 115 yards rushing on 16 attempts. Hagan Harrison completed 9-of-14 passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 59 yards.
West had three catches for 82 yards and Grant had three catches for 60 yards.
West received two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and was eject in the third quarter. The ejection will force him to miss the next two games.
West also had two interceptions. Trevor Dennis also came up with an INT.
Central is set to return to action Sept. 30 at Pikeville.
