CP Near Perfect in 2nd Half, Beatng River Oaks

Charles Dickens would call it a tale of two halves.  Coach Mike Longmire of the Central Private Rebels called it, ” a great second half,  He said we totally dominated the second half.  We had no mistakes.  The offensive line took over and controlled the line.  They blew holes open and Bobby  (Muse) ran well.”  The score board and history call it  a 21-20 victory for Central Private over the River Oaks Mustangs in Monroe.

The first half bore a strange resemblance to the Rebels only loss of the season to Brookhaven Academy.  Both teams were dressed in blue and both came out throwing the football.  The mustangs were able to get on the board first. After being forced to punt on their first possession,River Oaks was able to block a C. P.  punt and recover the football at the Rebel 25yard line.  Four plays later Gabe Brewer blasted into the end zone from 8 yards away. Corey Talley added the PAT and River oaks had a 7 – 0 first quarter lead.

Central Private was able to respond with a 9 play 65 yard drive.  After Chase Metz return the kickoff to the 35 yard line,  the Rebel ground game got rolling.  Running back Bobby Muse, who rushed for 184 yards on the evening, got into the end zone on a one yard run.  Muse had 6 carries for a 29 yards on the drive.  Muse said “If the offensive line didn’t block,  I wouldn’t have the success that I have.”  Coach Jamie Longmire added, “Bobby is a horse but when you have 5 guys in front of you like that its much easier.”  Rebel offensive and defensive lineman, Andy Kinchen, who is also senior class president, rumbled 15 yards with a fumble and quarterback Jason Young had a 10-yard pass completion to Brit Myer on the drive.  Brandt Moore added the PAT and tied the score at 7-7 late in the first quarter.

River Oaks quarterback Cody Trichell took the air and threw a 43-yard touchdown strike to Charles Bowie to complete a 60-yard 3 play touch down drive.  The PAT was good and River Oaks led 14-7.  Trichell would lead River Oaks on another scoring drive late in the second pass on the right, this one a 5-yard strike to Will White.  The PAT was wide right but River Oak took a 20-7 halftime lead.

The second half began and ended with Rebel dominance.  Senior center Cam Tate said, “We decided to come together and with the help of one of our best crowd’s, we came through.”  One such fan, Shari Metz, bought a cob of roasted corn from the semi-famous River Oaks Roaster, Metz did not eat the corn however.  She merely waved it in the air on each big play and swears it brought the Rebels success.  Metz plans on carrying the corn to the state championship.

The Rebels opened the 2nd half with a 14-play scoring drive.  Gage Wilkinson finished the 63 yard drive on a 4- yard run.  The drive took 8 minutes off the clock.  The PAT was missed and C.P. trailed by 7.
The Rebel defense held River Oaks to four plays and a punt.   Wilkson and Matt Wallace had a sack of Trichell for a 7-yard loss.  C. P again turned to Muse and the put-them-away gang of Tate, Kinchen, Steven, Whiddon, Travis, Rose and Matt Overlease.  The gang led C. P. on a 14 play, 80 yard touchdown drive.  The final play coming on a 10 yard Jacob Fryoux pass to tight end Thomas Bourgeois.  Fryoux said, “I know that we were going to score on that drive,  we dominated.  The pass was a little shaky.  It looked like a wounded duck, but it got there and we won.”  Bourgeois said, “It was a good low pass, the defense couldn’t get there.  It was right in my hands and I just caught it.”  The 2 -point conversion was good as Fryoux hit Wilkson for the PAT with a pass just in bounds.  Wilkson said,”I was hoping it was coming to me.  It just got open Fryoux threw it, and I caught it.” The 2-point conversion put C.P. ahead 21 – 20.

The defense put it away.  After the Mustangs gained 20-yards and had a first down at the Rebel  40, defensive tackle Conley White got a sack of Moore that changed the drive.  White said,”I saw the sweep open up, I ran as fast as I could and there he was.  It was an amazing feeling.”  The Rebels held Rive Oaks to 23-yards in the second half.  Rebel linebacker Travis Richard said,”We kept it tight in the second half.  We blitzed a lot and had more than one sack.”  After the punt, the rebels were able to run out the clock and hold on to a 21-20 victory.  Senior lineman Travis Rose stated, “It was one of our biggest wins,  I get tired going both ways but I give 100%, and it’s worth it.”

Next week is homecoming, a district game and our big rival, Silliman.  It is also Senior night.  It should be a good one.  The action starts a 7:00 p.m.

Dr. Patrick S. Tate O.D.