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Spartans can’t keep pace

HUGHESVILLE — A quick glance at the scoreboard at the end of the first quarter after Central Columbia’s Isaac Gense­mer ran in an 11-yard touchdown and Hughes­ville already found themselves down 21-7. The Blue Jays kept on the gas with 466 yards offensively to Hughesville’s 206. The Jays benefitted from Hughesville’s 89 penalty yards in a 48-14 victory at Hughesville Friday night.

“There was a bunch of penalties that gave them advantage and (they) took them.” Hughesville coach Dan Tucker said.

Systematically, the Spartan offense had opportunities and success moving the ball against the Central defense. Jase Wright, who returned to the lineup this week, got the Spartans on the board on a one play, 58 yard run midway throughout the first quarter, but Hughes­ville did not see the end zone again until it was too late.

Taking advantage of a returned kick to midfield by Gavin Steele, the Spartans looked to steal a touchdown just before the half. Jacob Corson hit an open Patrick Rodgers who was brought down at Central’s 18 yard line. Corson quickly spiked the ball with 33 seconds remaining. Corson dropped back on the first and 10, looked for Ryan Bahr in the back corner of the end zone, Zander Bradley navigated in front of Bahr for the interception, stalling Hughes­ville’s chance of getting to a 35-14 half an possible momentum, instead of 35-7 going into the locker room.

“It’s nice to have Wright back, he was able to score on that big run and had other good runs tonight.” Tucker noted of his running back’s 76-yard game.

“We had god things here and there all game, but couldn’t put it all together tonight.” Tucker said.

Defensively Hughesville was caught flat-footed from Central’s first play when the Jays ran a reverse pass to start the game whick Thivierge found an open Bradley streaking down the near sideline for a 51 yard touchdown in just a minute of game-time. From that, Central Columbia felt comfortable in the game and moved the ball at will. With three touchdowns in their first four drives to open the game.

“We didn’t tackle well.” Tucker said, “We worked on our schemes too much this week instead of being physical and tackling, and that’s my fault.” He added.

Gensemer finished with 123 yards and three touchdowns on the night as Spartans struggled to bring down the Jays back. Once the Spartans began to hone in on Gensemer, Trae Devlin would pass to his receivers on quick passes that turned to more big gains.

“(Central Columbia) got big plays when they needed them.” Turner said.

Not all was bad for Hughesville, when the Blue Jays opened up the second half, Devlin wanted the establish the passing game testing Spartan freshman, Hunter Herr. On its own 36, Central’s Devlin looked for a tightly covered Bradley deep down the left sideline, Herr and Bradley batteled until the ball hit the turf. A roughing the passer penalty on thrid down would give Central a new set of downs which the Jays turned into a Devlin QB sneak, the fifth touchdown of the game.

“The inconsistiences hurt tonight.” Tucker said. “We need to smiplify things to get better.”

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