Despite slow start, Central Tigers claw Porter Consolidated Pirates to set up district showdown Friday night with Gore

PORTER — It took a while for the Central Tigers to get going in their District A-8 road game against the Porter Consolidated Pirates, but once they got going they ran away from the host team.

After falling behind 6-0 after a quarter, the Tigers scored 36 points in the second quarter to take a 36-12 halftime lead en route to a 50-20 road victory.

The Tigers (6-0 overall, 3-0 in district play) now get ready for the District A-8 showdown against the Gore Pirates at 7 p.m. Friday at Tiger Stadium. Gore got a 3722 home district victory over Pocola on Friday night at K.G. Horn Stadium.

“Both teams are coming at 6-0,” Central coach Jeremy Thompson said about his Tigers and Gore’s Pirates for this Friday night’s district showdown. “It’s definitely going to be a big night in our district. We’re in control of our own destiny.”

Coy Blackburn scored Central’s first touchdown of the night on a 2-yard run in the early stages of the second quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, the Tigers attempted an onside kick, which was recovered by Central’s Leland Kelsey.

That sparked the Central offense, which went on to score four more TDs in the period to help the Tigers take a 36-12 halftime lead.

“We started slow,” Thompson said. “Recovering that onside kick got our offense going.”

For the game, Central had a three-headed monster of Blackburn, Hunter Pack and Joseph Lee each rush for 100-plus yards. Pack led the way with 145 yards, followed by Blackburn with 120 and three rushing touchdowns and Lee with 105 yards rushing and a TD.

Lee passed for 208 yards and two touchdown passes to Kade Tucker, who had a hat trick in receiving as he caught five passes for 100 yards and three TDs. Tucker’s third touchdown reception came on a 34-yard pass from Bo Locust.

Isaac Rogers had 75 yards rushing and two two-point conversions, while Blackburn and Tucker each had a twopoint conversion.

Defensively, Aiden Sainer and Xhaiden Mosby each had an interception. Lee and Blackburn each had five tackles to lead Central.