Central football team roars into the Class 4 final four

ST. LOUIS -- In a setting Central had struggled to find a victory in this season, the Tigers proved the environment was never an issue Friday night.

The Tigers' only two regular-season losses came on the road against a pair of St. Louis Schools, and their offense sputtered on the natural-grass fields.

So Central coach Nathan Norman mixed things up a bit.

Guided by the advice of assistant coach Gary Lynch, Norman prepared his team by practicing on the grass surface at the junior high school.

The move paid off as senior running back Braion Owens exploded for 209 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries, and the Tigers defeated the host Affton Cougars 34-14 to advance to the Class 4 semifinals for the second consecutive season.

"It feels really good. It's just another step, another day that we survived in the playoffs," said Central quarterback Peyton Montgomery, who finished a perfect 4 of 4 passing for 96 yards and one touchdown. "It was a complete team effort. I'm proud of the defense. It was just an overall good game."

The Tigers (11-2) finished the game with four interceptions, including two by senior defensive back Jalen Reddin.

"It feels good to work as a team and one unit because in practice we just stay focused on it," Reddin said. "We go against each other in practice. We've just got to stay focused and have that mentality to get everything that goes into the air."

Central defensive back Jaylen Reddin carries away from Affton during the second quarter of the Class 4 state quarterfinal Friday, Nov. 14, 2014 in Affton, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)

Sophomore defensive back Kway'chon Chisom provided the most timely interception of the night on the first play from scrimmage in the second half, returning the ball to the Affton 46-yard line.

Owens then carried the ball four times on Central's five-play scoring drive and found the end zone on a 15-yard run with 9:48 remaining in the third quarter. Brennan Redinger's PAT pushed the Tigers' lead to 28-7.

Norman said a thigh bruise limited Owens' touches in practice earlier in the week, but that didn't slow down Central's workhorse from amassing 111 yards in the third quarter alone.

"I think that was the best thing that could've happened," Norman said about keeping Owens out of practice. "His legs were fresh, and he made some phenomenal runs. He read the hole well tonight and did a great job of reading his linemen. The line did a good job blocking, and he did the rest."

"He's got something special," Norman said. "He's got what you can't coach. He's a veteran running back. He's got great vision, and he's got great balance. He's got everything you want."

Owens broke free for a 51-yard run on the Tigers' next possession, but the drive stalled deep in Affton territory.

Central running back Braion Owens carries for 51 yards against Affton during the third quarter of the Class 4 state quarterfinal Friday, Nov. 14, 2014 in Affton, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)

After Reddin's second interception of the night began Central's drive at the Affton 16, Owens took advantage of the short field and scored on a 9-yard run to give the Tigers a 34-7 lead with 1:56 to go in the third quarter.

Inside the final minute of the first half, the Cougars (12-1) got their first score of the game on a 23-yard touchdown pass from DeVontae Burse to 6-foot-4 wide receiver West Lindor, cutting Central's lead to 21-7 at halftime.

The drive was kept alive by a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

"Going into the half, the last two or three minutes we got real sloppy," Owens said. "Coach challenged us at half. He said, 'If we don't come out and play, it's going to be a ball game.' We did everything in our power to make it not a ball game and keep it as far out of their reach as possible."

Central held Affton to only 78 rushing yards on 35 carries.

"I got a little down on them in the first half. I felt like we gave them that first score with some silly penalties. I kind of challenged the kids at halftime, and boy, the kids really responded," Norman said. "We read our keys in the secondary. They were patient, and they made plays in the second half."

The Tigers scored on the game's opening possession as Al Young hauled in a 41-yard touchdown pass from Montgomery with 9:38 remaining in the first quarter. The scoring pass was preceded by four consecutive run plays.

"People want to see us throw the ball and get it to Al," Norman said. "He's a good receiver, but you have to set that up. You're just not going to drop back and throw it to him every time, and we do a nice job of that. Our kids do a nice job of setting that big throw up."

Central forced a three-and-out and pushed its lead to 14-0 at the 2:44 mark of the first quarter on Owens' first score of the game, a 4-yard run that capped off a nine-play scoring drive.

Central defensive lineman Lamarcus Johnson, right, celebrates with teammates after their 34-14 victory over Affton in the Class 4 state quarterfinal Friday, Nov. 14, 2014 in Affton, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)

Reddin recorded his first interception of the game in the second quarter and returned the ball 27 yards to the Cougars' 35.

On third-and-15, Young broke free for a 22-yard touchdown run to give the Tigers a 21-0 lead with 5:42 left in the first half. Young finished the game with 11 touches for 89 yards and also hauled in an interception in the fourth quarter.

"We don't get any respect up this way," Owens said. "Every time we come up north, we're the underdogs, so to come up north and beat an undefeated team on their home field is a big confidence booster."

Although the Cougars scored on a 49-yard fumble return for a touchdown with less than a minute remaining in the game, Norman was pleased to remain injury-free and remove his starters from the game in the final quarter.

"That's the key right now. I had to take some kids out. They didn't want to come out, but we'd won. We knew that," Norman said. "We had to get them out and stay healthy, live another week."

The Tigers will take on the winner between Westminster and St. Charles West, who will play each other at 1 p.m. Saturday in Town and Country, Missouri.

Reddin, who was a part of last year's team that suffered a 46-0 loss to eventual state champion Webb City, said the opportunity to advance to the state championship game is one the Tigers must seize.

"We've just got to take advantage of it. Last year, I don't think we took advantage of it," he said. "This year, we've just got to stay focused every practice and stay 100 percent and give it all our effort."

Central 14 7 13 0 -- 34

Affton 0 7 0 7 -- 14

First Quarter

C -- Al Young 41 pass from Peyton Montgomery (Brennan Redinger kick), 9:38

C -- Braion Owens 4 run (Redinger kick), 2:44

Second Quarter

C -- Young 22 run (Redinger kick), 5:42

A -- West Lindor 23 pass from DeVontae Burse (Adnan Mahmutovic kick), 0:34

Third Quarter

C -- Owens 15 run (Redinger kick), 9:48

C -- Owens 9 run (kick failed), 1:56

Fourth Quarter

A -- Kyle Berry 49 fumble return (Mahmutovic kick), 0:40

C A

First downs 13 10

Rushes-yards 46-302 35-78

Passing yards 96 106

Passes 4-4-0 5-15-4

Punts-average 1-24 2-40

Fumbles-lost 3-2 2-0

Penalties-yards 4-35 4-30

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Central, Owens 21-209, Young 10-48, Montgomery 6-30, Joshua Jones 2-8, Nikylus Thompson 3-6, Felawn Smith 2-2, Jordan Franklin 1-0, Team 1-(-1); Affton, Jordan Siegel 12-27, Al Shulz 4-19, Tyler Burrus 5-19, Burse 13-16, Berry 1-(-3).

PASSING -- Central, Montgomery 4-4-96-0; Affton, Burse 5-15-106-4.

RECEIVING -- Central, Young 1-41, Jalen Reddin 1-25, Andre Statam 1-25, Owens 1-5; Affton, Lindor 2-50, Berry 1-47, Trevor Stiefvater 1-12, Terrell Van 1-(-3).