By CALVIN STEVENS
Sports Writer
Central Holmes Christian School overcame adversity and highly-fueled emotions to knock off Riverside High School 20-8 last Friday night in Avon to close out the regular season.
The Trojans (7-3 overall) will be at home this week as they take on North Delta School at 7 p.m. Friday in the first round of the MAIS Class 3A state playoffs. Central Holmes, the No. 6 seed, played in the championship game last year, losing to Canton. North Delta is the No. 11 seed.
“North Delta is a very dangerous No. 11 seed,” said Central Holmes coach Mitch Womack. “Our kids know we need to focus on playing North Delta and not look ahead. Every team in the playoffs is 0-0. If you don’t come out and play your best game, you can be beat.
“North Delta is big and physical. We will be undersized up front. Their offensive and defensive lines are big and strong. They do a really good job with their multiple sets on offense. Our job is to get after them with our speed and quickness.”
North Delta comes into the game with a 5-5 overall mark. They went 1-4 in District 1-3A but had enough power points (20) to finish in the top 12 to make the playoffs. There are 15 teams in Class 3A.
The winner of Friday’s game moves on to play Greenville St. Joe in the quarterfinals on Nov. 3.
In last week’s win over Riverside, a public school in the MHSAA, the Trojans trailed 8-7 after the first period but got a touchdown each in the second and fourth frames to pull off the win.
“It was a close game, and we had three touchdowns called back because of penalties,” said Womack. “It was a good test for us mentally and physically. Riverside scored on its first drive. I gathered our guys together and reminded them what it was going to be like. We responded and played more physical. We needed to do that and have a game like this before the playoffs.
“Riverside came in having lost three games in a row to the top teams in their district. I knew they had real good skill players and two good running backs. It was a test and challenge for us, and I’m glad our kids responded and pulled this one out.”
In the first period, Eli Kemp scored from 16 yards out and Luis Cortes booted the PAT. The Bulldogs led 8-7.
In the second frame, John Ward scored from two yards away, and Cortes’ PAT made it 14-8 at the half. In the fourth, Ward intercepted a pass on defense and returned it 70 yards for a score. The try for two failed.
Ward finished with 159 yards rushing on 11 carries. Mason Wiysel had 45 yards on 10 tries, and Kemp had 26 yards on seven carries. Ward was 5-of-8 for 55 yards passing. Hudson Haffey had four receptions for 49 yards.
Haffey, Kemp and Wiysel had eight tackles and a quarterback sack each. Ward had seven tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery, while Josh Robinson and Cayton Edwards had six tackles and a sack apiece. Carson Burrell had four tackles and recovered a fumble.
