Chargers Cruise Past Dukes in Regional Opener

VICTORIA – The Central Chargers football team has seen the 2017 reflect the rolling hills of Southside Virginia with plenty of ups and downs. The team rode back toward an up moment on Friday night when they beat Cumberland in the first round of the Region B playoffs at home by a 56-30 score.

The Chargers got off to the best possible start that they could in this game with T’Zion Wilkerson taking the handoff on the first offensive play of the game and racing untouched for a 65-yard score.

Central got strong early defense in the game with Jackson Parsons, Ben Spencer and Darryl Jones making stops to force a three and out. The Central offense didn’t waste much time getting on the scoreboard again with Wilkerson picking up 31 yards behind good blocks from Jeffrey Goodwin, Ethan Hoover and Garrett Williams. Dontae Crowder scored from 14 yards out on the next play and a two point conversion pass from Crowder to Darryl Jones put Central ahead 14-0 early in the first quarter.

Cumberland put together a good offensive drive on their next series, but the Central defense got a stop near their 20 yard line. The Central offense was good once again as Crowder scored on a 25-yard run behind the blocks of James Richardson and Hunter Rutledge. An Earl Ginn extra point put Central up 21-0 in the first half.

The Dukes responded on their next series with a touchdown, but Central answered that with another Crowder touchdown run. This time he scored from 46 yards away to give Central a 28-6 lead.

To their credit, Cumberland continued to battle and put together another scoring drive, but Central answered again with Crowder continuing to have a field day running the ball against the Duke’s defense. He scored on the first play when he ran untouched for a 59-yard touchdown and a 35-14 Central lead.
The Chargers put the game away with Kawonte Ragsdale recovering a fumble and Crowder continuing to get the call on offense. Crowder took a pitch from Jackson Dalton and scored from 14 yards out to give Central a 42-14 lead at halftime.

With the game over at half, Central scored another touchdown early on and substituted over the course of the second half. Cumberland added a couple of scores on the Central subs, but the Chargers cruised to a 56-30 victory.

Central will now travel to William Campbell on Friday night at 7 p.m. for a semi-final game against the Generals.