After soaring to 44 points the game before, Centralia was a bit more limited in their matchup on Friday. They took a blow against the Kirksville Tigers, falling 41-12. The match marked the Panthers' lowest-scoring contest so far this season.
Despite the loss, Centralia saw an underclassman step up: sophomore Ethan Ross rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown. Ross was no stranger to the big play, taking off on a dash that went for 67 yards.
Ross was just one part of a punishing run game: Centralia was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 221 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 221 rushing yards in three consecutive games.
Kirksville had a senior duo take command as Jace Kent gained 122 total yards and two touchdowns and Ryder Lyons threw for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Kent is also on a roll when it comes to rushing touchdowns, as he's now punched in two or more in the last three games he's played.
Centralia moved to 6-3 with that defeat, which also ended their four-game winning streak. As for Kirksville, the victory for them keeps them at an undefeated 9-0.
Both squads are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Centralia will play host again on Friday to welcome Carrollton, where kickoff is scheduled at 7:00 p.m. As for Kirksville, they will welcome Mexico at 6:50 p.m. on Friday. Kirksville's defense has only allowed 6.7 points per game this season, so Mexico's offense will have their work cut out for them.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
