| advantage of two blocked punts,
an interception and a fumble recovery on the way to a 41-0 halftime
lead.
“Everything clicked for us. What could
go right, did go right for us in the first half,” said Nelson,
who faced Smiths Station for the last time as the Devils’
head coach. Nelson, who succeeded Wayne Trawick in 1998, is stepping
down at the conclusion of this, his 12th season.
Central now leads the all-time series with
its neighbor, 13-5. But Friday’s decision was not only the
largest margin of victory in series history, it was the most lopsided
defeat in the 54-year history of Panther football, surpassing
a 62-6 loss to Opelika in 2002.
“He (Nelson) tried to keep the score
down,” said second-year Smiths Station coach Mark Rose, whose
team dropped to 2-7 overall and finished 0-7 in region play. “They
took the No. 1’s out. What more could they do?”
But before the starters were yanked, Central’s
stars shined.
* Cordary Clark-Allen rushed for three
touchdowns (21, 35 and 4 yards) and a game-high 105 yards on 10
attempts.
* Deon Hill didn’t score a touchdown,
but rushed for 103 yards on just eight attempts, including a 41-yard
jaunt in the first quarter to set up a touchdown.
* Quarterback Darren Daniel threw two touchdown
passes and rushed for another, while completing 4-of-5 passes
for 85 yards.
* On special teams, Dante Devouse blocked
one punt and recovered another for a touchdown as the Red Devils
scored 28 points before 14 minutes elapsed.
“We couldn’t slow them down,”
said Rose, whose Panthers close the season next week at Valley.
“I think they’ll do really well in the playoffs.”
Central visits Wetumpka next Friday in a game Nelson said would
have a “playoff atmosphere” before hosting Region 4’s
Stanhope Elmore on Nov. 7 in the first round of the 6A playoffs.
The atmosphere at Garrett-Harrison Stadium
was somber for several moments late in the second quarter when
senior Red Devil lineman Tyler Hunter laid motionless on the grass
after a collision. Hunter was taken by ambulance to nearby Hughston
Memorial Hospital in Phenix City.
“A lot of things go through your mind
when you see that,” Nelson said, referring to his fallen
player. “The safety of the kids are the most important thing.”
Nelson reported that Hunter would be fine
and remained at the hospital Friday evening for precautionary
X-rays.
Wheeled toward the ambulance on a stretcher,
Hunter managed to create a Devils symbol with one hand, encouraging
his teammates.
“When he got his ‘Devil’
up ... that was a big positive for us,” Nelson said. “This
team is so close.”
In defeat, Smiths Station receiver Rod
Austin continued to produce. Austin had eight receptions for 86
of quarterback Michael Nolin’s 90 passing yards.
“They (Central) tried to double-team
him and all,” Rose said. “Rod’s a heck of a player.
I hope (some college) comes and signs him. They were doubling
him and he was still catching balls left and right.”
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