Valley No.1 Central Pitted Against No.3 Buchanan in First TRAC Game of Season

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Just before Central’s bye week, everyone had their eyes on the Central vs. De La Salle game, which resulted in the first loss of the season for the Grizzlies. Central had entered this game as an underdog and they were predicted to lose by 14 points. Things couldn’t have gone worse for Central as De La Salle struck quick, taking a 7-0 lead early in the game. The Spartans actually backed Central away from their own 10-yard line providing the De La Salle offense with the opportunity for a quick 3 and out. With the competitor close to a touchdown, the pressure was back on the Grizzly defense, but De La Salle’s running game looked unstoppable, opening a 21 -7 lead at the end of the 1 quarter. The Spartans looked like they were sure to run away with the game after extending the lead by 28-10 in the 2 quarter, yet the Grizzlies were not going away without a fight. By halftime they’d narrowed the gap to 5 points, only to turn the ball over again in the 3 quarter on their next two positions costing Central the game. None the less, the Grizzlies showed dogged persistence, playing every down, every quarter to the bitter end.

As Central puts the De La Salle game behind them, they now look forward to starting the TRAC conference by playing yet another talented team, the Buchanan Bears. The no. 3 ranked team has a 5-0 record and is looking to win their sixth. The biggest challenge the Bears will face is Central’s red-hot offense. Players to watch are Buchanan’s RB Kendall Melton and Central’s QB Trent Tompkins, two of the top athletes in the valley. In particular, Tompkins ability to create and extend plays by moving around the pocket has proved a valuable asset in the past. The Grizzlies also have a number of other weapons in their arsenal that the Bears will have to worry about: senior RB Jevon Bigelow, junior WR Tyrell Grayson, and senior WR Jacob Torrez will give that defense more to worry about. The question is, will Grizzlies defense stop the Bears outstanding sophomore RB Kendall Melton who typically starts some of his best plays with a run up the middle and a transition to the outside. The Grizzlies defense has done well defending the running game so far this season and if they manage to contain Melton, the Bears offense will have turn to Clovis North transfer Carson Bailey, the Bears QB. Central’s senior linebackers Tre Walker and Jacob Hollins, who both played a great game against De La Salle, will be the X-factor to stopping the Bear’s offense. Can Central hand Buchanan their first loss or will the Bears go 6-0. Find out Thursday night at the Buchanan stadium. The game begins at 7 p.m.

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tj

Twitter: @tnijhar2 | Read all of his articles HERE.

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