Still running off the high from 2018’s 5A State Championship, the Bobcats are back in action Friday nights. Facing off against Cleveland, Bobcat Nation was hopeful. After losing over a dozen players to graduation, no one knew what this year’s opener had in store, but hopeful for a Friday night win, Bobcat Nation is full of energy.
With a little bit of rain to start off the game, Central’s own kicker, Jared Swislowski, kicked off into Central territory. They held Cleveland’s offense behind the 30 for 4 downs before turning the ball over to the bobcats.
With only 10 seconds left in the first quarter on 3rd down, quarterback Dakota Fawver makes a connecting pass to Braden Gaston, 7, ending the quarter with a touchdown. Unfortunately the Bobcats missed the extra point going into the second quarter 6-0.
Leading the second quarter, Makai Anderson, 21, caught a Cleveland interception resulting in Central gaining back possession and starting a drive resulting in a first down. Continuing the chemistry demonstrated in Cookeville in 2018, with five minutes left in the second quarter, after a flag on an original touchdown play, Fawver again connects to Liam Fortner, 17, for another Bobcat touchdown. Bobcats up 14-0.
With one minute left in the first half and after battling a tough offensive, Fawver makes a first down pass to Braden Gaston, putting the bobcats at the 44. The drive resulted in a flag and 15 yard penalty for holding.
Second quarter drags on as Cleveland scores their first touchdown with approximately four minutes left in the half. Bobcats look like they are going into halftime 21-7 until Fawver makes a pass to Anderson and Swislowski makes the extra point putting Central up 28-7 with only five seconds left.
Coming back with even more electricity after halftime, within the first two and a half minutes the Bobcat defense scores a safety, bumping them up 30-7. Five minutes left in the third quarter and yet another touchdown pass by Fawver to Gaston. Free kick was made by Swislowski making the score 37-7. Desperately trying to catch up, Cleveland scores but misses their free kick. Score at the end of the 3rd quarter: 37-13.
Finishing strong, 30 seconds into the fourth quarter Fawver connects the pass and Anderson runs it in for a touchdown putting the bobcats up 44-13.
In arguably the best play of the game Fawver hands the ball off to Anderson who is able to get about five yards before being tackled from behind by a Cleveland defender. Before he hits the ground he throws a lateral pass to Jonathan Mynatt, 4, who is able to run the rest of the 50 yards to the endzone, while his teammates block defense left and right, for a jaw dropping Bobcat touchdown. After the incredible play the crowd at
Dan Y. Boring Stadium went crazy, Cleveland fans excluded, and Swislowski again made the extra point. Central won 51-20.
The remainder of the game was energetic as Central’s student section prepared to storm the field showing Tennessee that the bobcats are after another state championship.
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