Vindication: Central Drops Northwestern
By Rudy Rodriguez-Chomat
October 12, 2002

Validate. Vindicate. Both words describe what Central did, by beating Northwestern 20-10 before 10,000 plus at Traz Powell, for their season after going through a horrible week having to forfeit their first five games of the season after learning that star defensive end, Brian Pata, was ineligible.

            Although their chances of making the playoffs are now slim, the Rockets showed that they are the best team in the state by pasting the Bulls in convincing fashion while improving to 1-5 due to the forfeits.

            The game was simply the culmination to a very difficult week for Central that found out on Thursday morning that it would have to forfeit the games because Pata had apparently exceeded his eligibility due to repeating the 10th grade while at North Miami High School.

            "We did what it takes to win this ball game," Central head coach Anthony Saunders said. "It's amazing. These guys did a hell of a job. I take my hat off to these guys."

            A 78-yard touchdown pass from Courtney Denson to Willie Foster with 4:32 to play in the 2nd quarter gave the Rockets a commanding 14-3 going into halftime, one that Northwestern would never cut into.

            "It feels real good. I told you that was going to be our motivation. We came out and played hard on both sides of the ball," Central QB Courtney Denson said. "We played this game for Brian. I feel real sorry about what happened to him. He's a real good friend."

            Central extended the lead to 17-3 with 8:11 in the 3rd on a 31-yard field goal by John Mendoza and another late in the 4th to ice the game and make it 20-3, but the victory was led by the defense that shut down Northwestern over and over again bending, but never breaking.

            The Rockets defense recorded 3 sacks of Northwestern QB Derrick Willis and free safety Regis Richardson intercepted Willis twice, the first one leading to the Rockets first touchdown giving them a 7-3 lead in the 2nd quarter.

            "They played like they were the number one team tonight," Northwestern head coach Roland Smith said. "Any time you turn the ball over as much as we turned the ball over tonight, you don't give yourself much of a chance, but you have to give them credit. I just hope they make the playoffs because they are too talented of a bunch not to make the playoffs."

            It is imperative though that Central not think of this as the capper to their season because if they are to make the playoffs, they need to win out, including wins over Norland and Carol City, and hope for some key losses by teams such as Norland, North Miami Beach, Dr. Krop, Western, Piper and others in order to possibly secure the 2nd seed in the district or the wild card in the region.