Led by star running back De’Vonta Smith, Central has perhaps its most talented roster in recent memory, with hopes of turning a corner and competing for a playoff spot.
But it has become apparent that the Bears must find a way to reduce their self-destructive tendencies. After battling severe penalty problems in the preseason and Week 1 losses to Clermont-East Ridge and Springstead, Central had reason to celebrate on Friday thanks to a 21-7 victory at Fivay.
Yet more of the same issues reared their head. According to head coach Chris Sands, the Bears had five touchdowns called back due to penalties, including three on kickoff returns by Smith.
“The defense played better than the first couple of weeks, but we still had some holes,” Sands said. “Our guys played hard, they fought through adversity. When you score eight touchdowns and there’s only 21 points on the board, you’re fighting through adversity.”
Despite losing those special teams scores, Smith still produced some impressive numbers. He ran 22 times for 239 yards, twice reaching the end zone from 65 yards and 44 yards out. Quarterback Sam Garner added a 23-yard touchdown run. Middle linebacker Josh Rivera totaled 12 tackles.
Central will look to build on that momentum in a special Thursday game at Nature Coast, which will be broadcast as the Bright House Sports Network Game of the Week.
“A win’s a win,” Sands said. “We had a really bad taste in our mouths after the Springstead game. Obviously a win going into a big game against Nature Coast, it’s huge. We’re going to try to come in there and play hard so we can come out with a W.”
Elsewhere in the county on Friday, Hernando lost at traditional powerhouse South Sumter, 47-28. Sophomore David Hale Bronson carried the ball 19 times for 128 yards and ran for three touchdowns, and added two receptions for 42 yards.
Jacob Butts added 63 yards and a score on the ground, and Lawrence Sansone recorded 14 tackles in a game that was tied at 15 in the second quarter. The Leopards only trailed 29-21 at halftime.
“It was a rough ballgame. Kids are a little beat up. But heads are high, I believe,” Hernando head coach Bill Vonada said. “Second half, I don’t want to say they wore us down but we made a few too many mistakes.
“Defensively we had a tough time stopping them. They are very big, very fast. But our kids in the second half came out and played tough, a little tougher defensively. But just weren’t quite able to get enough stops or hold on to the football quite long enough to get it done. Certainly some correctable mistakes, but got to get them corrected now and regroup, and focus on the start of the district season.”
Weeki Wachee went down to visiting Hudson, 35-21, falling to 0-2 on the season. The Hornets trailed 21-0 at the intermission and could never recover.
Senior Alec Cromie completed 23-of-43 passes for 377 yards with three touchdowns against two interceptions. Eli Mendoza had two touchdown catches, of 10 and 60 yards, while Andrew Stephenson had three receptions for 106 yards with a 90-yard score.
“At some point in time, it has got to register for us defensively,” Weeki Wachee head coach Mark Lee said. “Offensively, we’ve got to start off quicker than what we have been. The first two games, in the first half we’ve laid an egg. In the second half, we’ve come out firing on all cylinders.”
In volleyball, Hernando (4-1) beat Gulf on Wednesday, 19-25, 16-25, 25-14, 25-20, 17-15, but suffered a loss to Class 6A, District 7 foe Lecanto the next day, 25-13, 27-25, 27-25, to go to 3-1 in the district.
Weeki Wachee went to 4-3 overall with a win over Central on Tuesday, 25-7, 25-15, 25-14, and a loss to Fivay on Wednesday, 25-19, 27-25, 25-18, before heading to the Lake Highland Showcase in Orlando over the weekend.
Hernando junior cross country runner Trevor Foley won Saturday’s Riverwood Invitational at the Concourse Rotary Pavilion in Pasco County, posting a time of 16:33. Springstead’s Matt Levonick was fifth with a time of 18:02.80. In the team scores, the Leopards had the county’s highest placing in fifth at 125.
On the girls side, Nature Coast’s Leah Marville ran a fourth-place 21:43.10 and Central’s Rayna King came in sixth (22:43). The Lady Bears finished third overall (135).
Follow Chris Bernhardt Jr. on Twitter @cpbernhardtjr.