While some questioned whether the Central High School football team could turn things around after an 0-4 start, coach Ty Scroggins wasn’t among them.
After all, he’s seen the Yellowjackets start slow in the past only to rally for Class 3-A state championships, like in the 2007 season (0-2 start) and 2010 campaign (1-5 start).
And with 27 seniors gone from last year’s 10-3 squad, Scroggins knew he needed to temper expectations, especially against an early schedule that included Class 6-A powers Manual and St. Xavier, Class 3-A stalwart Corbin and rising Class 2-A program Christian Academy.
“I think we’ve always known we have a good 3-A football team,” Scroggins said. “We’re able to compete at 3-A this year. In previous years we were able to compete in 6-A. Our offensive lines and defensive lines are just as good as anybody we’re going to play from now on. Now we just have to start fine-tuning some things.”
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Scroggins saw progress on those young lines Friday in a 41-21 victory over Waggener in the teams’ Class 3-A, District Three opener.
With senior Sermoin Dawson the only returning starter on the offensive line, the Yellowjackets have struggled a bit while breaking in junior Timothy Hicks and sophomores Jajuan Boone, Jonathan Tucker and Kyle Wilson.
They helped Central rush for 173 yards on 38 carries (4.6 yards per carry) against Waggener. Corey Johnson led the attack with 77 yards and two touchdowns on 11 attempts.
“(Waggener) has a good defensive line, but we had already played four of the top defensive lines in the state,” Scroggins said. “I don’t know if it was so much they grew up tonight as it was they said, ‘It’s time for us to play 3-A football.’”
TIGERS’ ROSHKOWSKI INJURED
After scoring two touchdowns against Highlands last week, St. Xavier wide receiver/kick returner Blake Roshkowski lasted just one play in Friday’s 27-17 win over Pleasure Ridge Park. He hobbled off the field after taking the opening kickoff and did not return.
It marked a setback for the senior, who had been gradually getting back into the swing of things since tearing an ACL earlier this year while preparing for lacrosse. St. Xavier coach Will Wolford said Friday’s injury happened to Roshkowski’s other knee.
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“He’s going to have it checked out by the doctor, further tests and all that,” Wolford said. “We can’t tell (the severity) tonight for sure.”
A healthy Roshkowski would help bring balance to the Tigers offense, which has leaned heavy on the run this season, by giving quarterback Desmond Ridder an experienced target. Last season, Roshkowski caught a team-best 19 passes for 214 yards.
MISTAKES COSTLY FOR PRP
In the first half of PRP’s loss Friday, it was the offense that committed the mistakes, namely two fumbles inside St. X territory in the final 90 seconds that stopped the Panthers from potentially tying the score heading into halftime against their Class 6-A, District 3 foe.
In the second half, however, the mistakes took place on defense – in particular, three offsides calls against the Panthers on the last two St. X scoring drives. The first was especially costly as it happened on a 4th-and-1 play at the PRP 5. The flag gave St. X a fresh set of downs, and Sam Taylor scored on the next play to make it 20-10 with 10:22 remaining in the game.
“Those are just mistakes that will kill you no matter who you’re playing, and I’m sure it boils down to fatigue,” said Jason Hiser, who added the St. X offensive line had overpowered his kids on the line in the second half. “We just got to get better, and we got to erase those. Heck, we play a great football team next week.”
The Panthers will host No. 9 Male on Thursday.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
* Shelby County (4-2) racked up 341 rushing yards and averaged 10.3 yards per carry in a 52-18 victory over visiting Franklin County (2-4).
Brandon Davis led the Rockets with 93 yards and three touchdowns on just five carries. Quarterback Tyler Drane, who completed just 1 of 3 passes for 23 yards, rushed for 54 yards and a touchdown on four attempts.
* Hunter Perdue rushed for 129 yards on seven carries and scored five touchdowns to lead Bullitt East (2-4) to a 69-0 rout of Nelson County (0-6). Perdue rushed for five touchdowns, caught a 37-yard pass for a score and returned a punt 75 yards for a TD.
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* Shamar Bryant passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another to lead Fern Creek (4-2) to a 47-0 victory at Fairdale (0-5). Bryant completed 6 of 11 passes for 120 yards and also rushed for 54 yards on four carries.
* Quarterback Drew Zaubi and receiver Keanan John were a tough tandem for South Oldham (5-0) in a 48-27 victory at Oldham County (1-4). Zaubi completed 7 of 9 passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns, and John had three catches for 134 yards and two scores.
* Sophomore Jarren McDonald completed 11 of 15 passes for 186 yards and five touchdowns to lead Holy Cross (4-2) to a 41-13 victory at Grant County (3-3). Senior Max Bearden had five catches for 175 yards and three touchdowns, and junior Mario Convenuto rushed for 82 yards on 15 carries.
* In a matchup of two of the state’s top small-school programs, Class 2-A Mayfield (6-0) posted a 35-34 victory over Class 3-A Corbin (5-1) at Lindsey Wilson. After pulling within 35-34 on a Cameron Sizemore touchdown pass to Cameron Barton with 4:23 remaining, Corbin tried a two-point conversion but failed.
* Logan County’s state-long losing streak moved to 39 games after a 35-27 overtime loss to Hopkins County Central. The Cougars (0-6) led 27-13 after three quarters before the Storm (4-2) forced overtime. Damon Benson’s touchdown run and two-point conversion gave Hopkins County Central a 35-27 lead before the Cougars failed to score on their overtime possession.
POWER FIVE
Each week Jason Frakes will provide his ranking of the top five teams in the state, regardless of class:
* No. 5 – Simon Kenton (6-0). Quarterback Cam Racke accounted for nine touchdowns (six passing, three rushing) in a 77-53 victory over Highlands. Up next: Off next week before hosting Boone County (0-6) on Oct. 7.
* No. 4 – St. Xavier (4-1). Quarterback Desmond Ridder rushed for 82 yards and three touchdowns in a 27-17 victory over Pleasure Ridge Park. Up next: Faces Trinity (6-0) on Friday at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.
* No. 3 – Male (5-1). Nathan Hobbs and B.K. Smith both had punt returns for touchdowns in a 41-13 victory at Butler. Up next: At Pleasure Ridge Park (4-2) on Thursday.
* No. 2 – Bowling Green (6-0). Senior quarterback Clark Payne threw for a school-record 415 yards and added four touchdowns in a 55-7 victory over Central Hardin. Up next: At Grayson County (1-5) on Thursday.
* No. 1 – Trinity (6-0). Eight different players scored touchdowns in a 70-0 rout of Jeffersontown. Up next: Faces St. Xavier (4-1) on Friday at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.
GAME BALLS
Max Bearden, Holy Cross
The senior had five receptions for 175 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-13 victory at Grant County.
Hunter Perdue, Bullitt East
The junior rushed for 129 yards on seven carries and scored five touchdowns in a 69-0 rout of Nelson County. Perdue rushed for five touchdowns, caught a 37-yard pass for a score and returned a punt 75 yards for a TD.
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.