Buffalo Express - Nov. 28, 2021

from Buffalo Express - Nov. 28, 2021

Centerville Tiger Seniors after the Regional Championship win over Holland in Bryan, TX. Sully Hill (#8), BJ Kelly (#55), Tommie Cottrell (#52), Karter Kornegay (#12), Michael Locke (#56), James Bodine (#59), Angel Villarreal (#20), Tyrese White (#9)
Buffalo Express photo

Centerville Tigers Take a Step Closer by Defeating the Holland Hornets

by Gary Danford

Coach Kyle Hardee, Staff, Centerville Tigers, and their Fans took the drive west to Merrill Green Stadium in Bryan, Texas to battle the undefeated Holland Hornets on Friday, November 26, 2021. Once again, this talented Tiger team was well prepared and played a spirited, almost flawless, Regional Championship game – 1 penalty, 1 interception, 1 punt, 0 fumbles to defeat the Holland Hornets 28 - 0 on a cool, calm post- Thanksgiving night. Tiger Captains Seniors Sully Hill, BJ Kelly, James Bodine, and Junior Paxton Hancock won the coin toss and deferred receiving the ball until the 2nd half – I always like that decision.

Centerville was set to kick-off to the Hornets to start this Regional contest. Holland started on their own 35-yard line and the Tigers were trying to “set the tone” for the evening on defense. On the Hornet opening possession Holland was moving the ball but on 4th down Hancock made a 1st-down-saving tackle at the Centerville 19-yard line. The Tigers started their offensive attack but were stopped by Hornet interception in Tiger territory. There was a lot of back and forth in the 1st quarter between the Tigers and the Hornets. The game tone was still being established, the Tiger defense led by Cameron Pate, Dude West, Zach Taylor, and Paxton Hancock were fighting for another stop, and it happened again at the Tiger 24- yard line. The Centerville offense was back on the field and lightning was about to strike in the form of #13 Andrew Newman. The 1st quarter was coming to a close, the offensive line blocked down, Newman got the ball, countered opposite, and #13 outraced everybody into the Hornet endzone – 76 yards…. impressive. Freshman kicker Jake Pineda was accurate and it was now Centerville 7 – Holland 0 with 34 seconds left in the quarter.

The teams roll into the 2nd quarter and both teams are trying to establish dominance in this crucial game that was well covered by the media – Max Preps, KBTX, KAGS, Centerville News, and The Buffalo Express. The Tiger defense makes ANOTHER 4th down stop – they are playing well coached, team defense and are now starting to control the line of scrimmage. The Centerville offense takes over on their own 42-yard line and on 3rd down 3 yards to go Paxton Hancock gets the call. That stout, tough Tiger line blocks well, #15 is “busted loose” and turning it on… .51-yard sprint into the Hornets’ endzone with 9:42 until halftime. New Score -Centerville 13 – Holland 0. Good Kick-off coverage by Wade Neyland, Zach Taylor, and their Tiger teammates and the Holland offense now starts at their own 29-yard line. The Tiger defense sparked by good plays from- Zantayl Holley, Drennan Starnes, and their aggressive teammates force the Hornets to give the ball back to their offense. Centerville now starts at their own 33-yard line with a good mix of plays and “grind the clock down” on a time consuming, ball control drives down the field. Highlighted by a 4th down and 1-yard push by QB Sully Hill behind the Tiger line to keep the drive alive at the Hornets 47-yard line control has been established. Good alternating runs by Andrew Newman and Paxton Hancock behind that surging forceful Tiger offensive line spot the ball at the Hornets’ 11-yard line. With 1:37 until the midgame break, Newman follows his blocks and weaves his way into the Holland end-zone for his 2nd touchdown of the evening, the PAT is good by Pineda and the lead is extended …. Centerville 20 – Holland 0. The Hornets are frustrated and on the next possession their ball carrier is hit hard and the ball comes loose. Tiger Senior Tyrese White pounces on the ball at the Hornet 28-yard line and the offense is back on the field with 1:26 left in the 2nd quarter. The offense advances the ball to Holland 19-yard line but on 4th down the field goal attempt does not come off as planned. Both teams head to their locker rooms with the score Centerville 20 – Holland 0. Coach Hardee’s goal of “physical, disciplined ball control with no penalties” has been established.

The 2nd half starts with the Tigers receiving the kick-off and Sophomore Andrew Newman advances the ball 41 yards to the Holland 40-yard line. The Tigers move the ball to the Hornets 21-yard line and Holland is desperately trying to hang on and stop the Tigers. Good defense on both sides of the ball consume a lot of time in the 3rd quarter highlighted by good plays from Senior Angel Villarreal, Zach Taylor, Zantayl Holley for the Tigers. The 3rd quarter comes to a close with the Centerville offense owning the ball and line of scrimmage at the Holland 22-yard line.

The Holland defense has spent a lot of time on the field in this contest and even with subs are starting to wear down. The Tiger offensive line led by KBTX student athlete, Senior James Bodine, block and Newman and Hancock run. A tough, hardnosed 7 + yard run by Newman and Centerville is sitting inside the Hornets’ one-yard line. Up under center QB Hill pushes behind that dominating Tiger line into the Hornet end zone at 10:59 to go in the contest for the Tiger touchdown. Kicker Pineda comes on the field to attempt the PAT, the majority of folks including the Hornet defense and me think the kick will happen as planned…. it didn’t. Holder Sophomore Trayce Schwab takes the snap, sprints out, tosses the ball, and finds Junior Ethan Flori “all by his lonesome” in the corner of the end zone for the 2-point conversion. Faked us out…. New Score - Centerville 28 – Holland 0. This game is all but over, the Tiger defense smells the win and are playing very aggressive, punishing “gang tackling” defense. Holland attempts a final drive, aided by the one and only penalty on the Tigers all night – “snap count mimicking”….hammam??? But the Hornets are stopped at the Tiger 36-yard line with 3:30 left in the game.

Tiger Sophomore QB Riley Winkler leads the Tiger offense back on the field and a lot of young players are now getting good experience. Folks, Centerville has a lot of young players who start, substitute, and get considerable playing time – Coach Hardee and staff are looking at the present and planning for the future. Very successful gameplan and operation. People I know who follow the Tigers, some have players on the team, tell me that Coach Hardee and his staff not only build good teams but focus on building good young men. That revelation is very obvious to this reporter in the brief times I have had the opportunity to observe this staff and team. Good stuff, Folks.

**Centerville's James Wright (#78) blocks a rushing Hornet lineman.**

The game winds down, time expires, and the Centerville Tigers are Regional Champions – Final Score Centerville 28 – Holland 0. Quotes this week from Coach Kyle Hardee –“we cut out the penalties,” “our guys controlled the clock and line of scrimmage,” “we ground it out in the 2nd half – good team effort.” Next level in the Tigers successful season will involve a trip to the Tomato Bowl in Jacksonville, Texas to do battle with the Timpson Bears on Friday, December 3 at 7:00 PM in the State Quarterfinals. Wow!!!… this could very well be one of the most excited football games all year. C’mon Leon County, get on the road and go support your Centerville Tigers!!!

Centerville Tigers Take a Step Closer by Defeating the Holland Hornets

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Buffalo Express - Nov. 28, 2021