CUNNINGHAM, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Montgomery Central versus West Creek certainly lived up to the billing of Game of the Week Friday, as the Indians and the Coyotes faced off for the first time since 2010 in Cunningham.
It was a war of attrition in the latter stages of the contest, but Montgomery Central leaned on their senior-led offensive line to get the job done against West Creek, defeating the Coyotes 21-12.
They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but there appeared to be no love lost between the two teams throughout. Emotions ran high and tempers flared, resulting in six total high-profile player ejections late in the first half.
Montgomery Central head coach Jeff Tomlinson was unsure of what exactly led to the game’s chippy nature.
“I really don’t know,” Tomlinson shared. “We have a great relationship with their coaching staff and I have no idea what caused it to escalate like it did.”
West Creek head coach James Figueroa was extremely displeased with the lack of clarification and rulings made on the field.
“I’m upset right now,” Figueroa said. “That scoreboard doesn’t reflect what we are trying to do. It was a great football game and a great atmosphere, but it bothers me.”
On the game’s first play from scrimmage, West Creek’s Yahsir Thomas took a Ti-Anthony Wagner screen pass for six points, putting the Coyotes up 6-0 right out of the gates.
On the very next possession, Indians fullback Lakendriez “Drez” Sanders capped off a methodical opening drive for Central with a rushing touchdown.
As the first quarter wound down, Thomas bounced off a number of Indian tacklers on his way back to the endzone for his second score of the game.
After suffering the proverbial punch in the mouth by the Coyote offense, Tomlinson raved about the resilience his defensive unit showed the rest of the way out.
“I love to see that,” Tomlinson said. “It happened to us a couple of times last year and our defense stepped up, bowed their neck and was able to stand strong the rest of the game. It’s great to see this defense do the same thing.”
Central retook the lead on an 18-yard touchdown run by Sanders with 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter.
The Coyotes failed to capitalize on two Indian penalties that put them deep into Central territory after a high snap from the West Creek center resulted in a huge loss. Wagner was then forced to throw it deep on fourth-and-goal from the 12-yard line, but was picked off by Dalton Bradford on the play.
Loring Beacham later returned the favor, picking off the Logan Sykes pass attempt before play had to be stopped to sort out the aftermath of the scrum.
After the dust settled, the Indians took the field with their leading rusher banished to the sidelines for the rest of the game. He finished with 16 carries for 117 yards and two touchdowns.
The second half started out sloppy on both sides, including another botched Coyote snap that gave the Indians the ball back. On the same drive, West Creek had a first-and-goal from the one-yard line, but Central’s defense hung tough to preserve the lead.
“Those killed us,” Figueroa said of his team’s turnovers. “We have to get back to the drawing board and see what we can do better.”
The Indians rushing attack was a collective effort down the stretch as Michael Payton, Noah Aldrich and others stepped up to try and fill the void left by Sanders’ exit.
“First of all, let’s give the credit to the offensive line,” Tomlinson said. “They came up and mashed people up front. Michael (Payton) and Noah (Aldrich) really had a big half behind our offensive line.”
Montgomery Central (2-0) travels to take on Portland Friday, Sept. 6 in the Indians’ first road game of the season.
“They’re big, strong and physical,” Tomlinson said of the Panthers. “We’re going to have to get better fundamentally, grow up some and just play better football.”
West Creek (1-1) will now turn their attention to Northwest (2-0) as they host the Vikings Friday, Sept 6.