In the second game of the 2015 season, and second under new head coach Clay Stephens, Warren Central trekked two hours west to Paducah for a matchup with McCracken County, but a third quarter that saw the Mustangs outscore the Dragons 21-7 proved to be the difference, as Warren Central dropped to 0-2 on the young season, while McCracken County improved to 1-1.
McCracken County used momentum garnered before halftime to jump out to a quick start in the third quarter. In a span of five seconds of game time, the Mustangs scored two touchdowns to break out of a 21-21 tie. The first score came via a 32-yard touchdown throw from Mustangs’ QB Cash Jones to Darian Woods to take a 28-21 lead with 2.1 seconds to play in the half.
On the ensuing kickoff, McCracken pooch-kicked it, and the Mustangs were able to recover. That’s when Kentucky commit Zy’Aire Hughes took the handoff out of the backfield and torched the Dragons defense for a 38-yard touchdown run, to take a 35-21 lead into the locker room.
After giving up a quick touchdown scored by McCracken Co. on a 40-yard touchdown run by Cash Jones to make it 42-21, Warren Central forced a pair of Hughes fumbles, but were unable to capitalize on either. The Dragons did come within 21 points again at 42-28 after a Chance Shanklin touchdown pass to Steven McEntire with 5:48 to play in the third, but a pair of Shanklin interceptions lead to touchdowns – one on a Hughes 61 yard run and another on a Mason Woley pick-six return to give the Mustangs a 56-28 lead.
Damani Walker gave the Dragons a spark in the fourth quarter, returning a punt 50-yard for a touchdown, but it proved to be too little too late as the Dragons would fall 56-35.
The Mustangs out-gained Warren Central 474 to 318, but the Dragons did most if its damage through the air, passing for 225 yards.
Warren Central showed a lot of growth from week one against Owensboro to this week against McCracken Co., and it feels like they’re a play or two away from breaking out.
Central will continue on its four-game road trip when they visit John Hardin next week. Toe will meet leather at 7:00 p.m. and you can hear all the action on Dragons’ Nation, apart of the Sporting Times Broadcast Network, at sportingtimesmagazine.com.
