PREP FOOTBALL: Central gets past Wetumpka

By: Wesley Lyle Montgomery Advertiser | Opelika Auburn News
Published: October 31, 2009

WETUMPKA — Central turned to its ground game to pull out a 20-12 win over Wetumpka and build momentum going into the first round of the playoffs.

Seventh-ranked Central (9-1) will host Stanhope Elmore in a rematch from Week 5. The Red Devils won that meeting, 32-29.

“This was a good game for us going into the playoffs,” Central coach Ron Nelson said. “Wetumpka is a good team, and I’m just glad to get out of here with a win.”

The Red Devils controlled the tempo Friday night with a punishing ground game. Led by senior running backs Cordary Clark-Allen and Deon Hill, Central pounded out 268 yards on the ground.

“It feels good to have momentum going into the playoffs,” Clark-Allen said.

“We planned to come out and run the ball tonight. Our offensive line opened some great holes and we ran hard.”

The Red Devils had 277 yards of offense.

“Usually, we throw more than this, but tonight we had to pound the ball,” Nelson said. “(Deon) and Cordary both had good games tonight.”

Clark-Allen finished with 114 yards on 20 carries and Hill added 102 yards on 17 carries. Junior J.D. McKissic added 40 yards on five carries, including a 5-yard touchdown.

“They’re one of the best running teams we’ve played this season.” Wetumpka senior linebacker JaMichael Taylor said. “We made a couple of errors and a couple of things didn’t go our way, but they beat us. We played hard and left it on the field.”

Clark’s 22-yard touchdown run with 48 seconds to play essentially sealed the victory.

Central kicker Antonio King accounted for eight points in the game, with two field goals and two extra points. His first field goal was one to remember.

Leading 7-6 late in the first half, King lined up for a 42-yard attempt. The kick was straight on, came down on the cross bar and bounced over. The senior added a 25-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to give the Red Devils the lead for good.

Senior Marquiz Buycks led Wetumpka to its first score on the opening possession of the game. Buycks capped the drive with a 9-yard run.

Wetumpka’s second touchdown came after a blocked punt by Todderick Murphy. John Pinkston recovered the block to set up a 28-yard Jamal Golden-to-Kentaevious Kendrick touchdown pass and a 12-10 lead in the third quarter.