Central's Defense Leads the Way
By Rudy Rodriguez-Chomat
September 12, 2003

Following their recipe for success that led them to a 10-0 record on the field in the regular season last year, Central dominated American with defense and special teams shutting out the Patriots 14-0 before 1,500 at Hendricks Stadium.

Sophomore running back Terry Williams was the difference for the Rockets on the offensive side of the ball rushing 18 times for 170 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a 62-yard rocket launch with 1:03 to play to seal the win.

“He’s simply amazing,” Central head coach Tony Saunders said. “He’s got so much heart, character and desire and he’s only a sophomore. He told me today at school that he was going to have a great game and he did.”

Williams’ outburst would have been for naught if not for a Rockets defense that smothered American allowing only 146 yards of total offense, with most of the yardage coming in the first quarter when Central was adjusting to the Patriots wide splits on the offensive line, that spread the Rockets defense out.

American never got passed the Central 40-yard line, punting eight times in eleven possessions, until the last minute of the game when Central defensive tackle Frantz St. Pierre sacked American quarterback Cory Christopher for the third time on fourth and six from the Rockets 34-yard line.

Williams followed that with his 62-yard run following the block of fullback Charles Simmons.

The Rockets special teams were key early with fill-in punter Cardale Brantley, who also starts at safety, knocking two punts inside the Patriots 5-yard line.

Late in the first quarter, the Central’s special teams did it again, after American’s punter botched the snap. Clayton Johnson and L.D. Highsmith converged causing a fumble that St. Pierre recovered at American’s 15-yard line. Williams punched it three plays later from a yard out to give the Rockets a 7-0 lead that they would hold onto until the final minute of the game.

“We have a real young team losing 38 seniors,” Saunders said. ‘Our motto this week was refuse to lose and these kids refused to lose today. Our defense was great today. We overcame a lot of penalties (58-yard touchdown run called back), dropped balls (two for touchdowns) and mental mistakes. It’s a big win and gives the kids confidence going into next week’s game.”

That game would be against #1 ranked Carol City.

Picture 1: Central's Terry Williams in fast forward as he was for most of the game.
Picture 2: American's Claudale Davis lining up against Central's L.D. Highsmith.
Picture 3. Central's Dennis Brown rolling out for the throw.