A strong second half by the visiting Central Tigers enabled them to break a 6-all halftime score and win 28-14 over the Roland Rangers to spoil Roland’s homecoming Friday night at Ranger Stadium.
With the game tied at 6-all at the break, the Tigers (3-0) took the lead for good on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Kiefer Bailey to Paitton Merrill. Gavin Randolph then caught the two-point conversion pass from Bailey to put Central ahead 14-6 with 7:53 left in the third quarter.
On Central’s next possession which was created by a fumble recovery at the Roland 25-yard line, the Tigers went 25 yards in five plays as Aiden Smith took it in from a yard out, with Smith’s TD run set up by a 29-yard pass from Bailey to Randolph on third-and-20. Smith scored two plays later. Kaw-Liga Lewis’ twopoint conversion run upped Central’s lead to 22-6 with 5:27 remaining in the period.
The next time Central got the ball, the Tigers went 57 yards in seven plays as Smith scored his second TD of the game on an 11-yard run with 2:05 left in the period. Although the two-point conversion failed, Central took a 28-6 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Tigers tied the game at 6-all at halftime on Bailey’s 24-yard TD pass to Aiden Cawhorn with 2:05 left in the first half. The two-point conversion pass was incomplete.
Bailey threw for 174 yards and two touchdowns, while Aiden Smith rushed for 82 yards and two TDs for Central.
The Tigers will entertain the Wewoka Tigers at 7 p.m. this Friday in the District AII-3 opener at Tiger Stadium.
