No. 5 Central Rushes Past Sullivan In Week 1

Central rolled up 550 yards of offense Friday and took down Sullivan 52-21 in Week 1.

The Eagles (0-1) had some bright spots on special teams and the defense recovered three fumbles, but Central looked as formidable as ever going for a sixth straight district championship.

Sullivan will attempt to rebound Friday when they host Festus at 7 p.m.

Blaine Blankenship and Will Allen rushed for touchdowns, while Trevor Key returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

The two teams swapped fumbles on their respective opening drives.

Bartolotta made a strip and Isaac Peregoy recovered at the Central 34 just four plays in. Sullivan fumbled on their second play and the Rebels took advantage. Quarterback Jace Bland barreled in for a touchdown with 5:17 to play in the first quarter. The extra point was no good.

Sullivan fumbled again two drives later. Central recovered at the Eagles' 19 and Bland threw a touchdown pass to Tanner Smith eight seconds into the second quarter. Central missed the extra point again and led 12-0.

After a three-and-out by the Eagles, Blake Bolin ran for a 47-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive. Central went up 19-0 with 10:27 left in the half.

Bartolotta shifted the momentum with a long kickoff return aided by an unnecessary roughness penalty by the Rebels. Sullivan set up at the Central 12 and Blankenship fought his way into the end zone for a touchdown run on the first play of the drive.

Just 28 seconds later, Tyreece Welch bolted for a 65-yard touchdown run to put Central up 26-7. Sullivan's offense stalled on the next drive, but a punt left the Rebels at their own 9.

Welch dug Central out with runs of 29 and 28 yards. The Eagles halted Central with a missed field goal, but the Rebels scored again with 50 seconds left when Bland ran for a 25-yard touchdown. Central led 33-7 at the break.

The teams swapped fumbles again early in the third quarter. After Drake Hill recovered a fumble for the Eagles, Sullivan turned it over again a little more than a minute later. Central took advantage with a 14-yard touchdown run from Welch. Three minutes later, Tyler Murray scored on a 3-yard touchdown run.

Despite the deficit, Sullivan didn't let up. Quarterback Ty Wheeler hit Blankenship for a 32-yard pass and Lucas Glaser for a 36-yard pass, eventually setting up Allen's 2-yard score with 3:05 left. The Eagles made it 46-14 and turned off the running clock.

Keandre Mesa answered with an 81-yard touchdown run with 43 seconds to put Central up 52-14, but Key sent the Eagles off on a better note as he returned the kickoff for a touchdown.