Central football on a roll
By Dennis Brunson
hssr.com Associate Editor
Pageland – Jonathan Eason’s first game as the football head coach of his alma mater, Central High School, was not a good one. The Eagles lost to Lewisville 20-0.
Since that ill-fated start though, Central has exploded offensively and been dominant defensively. The Eagles have shut out Parkwood of North Carolina 22-0, beat Lamar 40-38 in a shootout, whipped Blacksburg 44-14, beat Anson of North Carolina 32-7 and blasted Buford 47-0.
“I think we have gotten better every week,” said Eason, whose team was 5-1 and 1-0 in Region 4-AA after the win over Buford. “The kids are working hard and taking pride in getting better.”
After failing to put any points on the board in the season opener, Central scored 185 points in the five victories.
“Offensively we have been able to make a ton of big plays,” Eason said. “Our offensive line has done a good job creating movement in the run game and our playmakers have done a great job of making things happen once they get in space.”
Through the first five games, the Eagles were averaging 178.4 rushing yards per game. However, they are spreading the wealth. Junior running back Aiden Short was leading the way with 343 yards and four touchdowns on 46 carries. Junior Ashten Wilson was averaging 241 and two scores on 31 carries, sophomore quarterback Dwayne Louallen Jr. had 146 yards and two scores on 29 carries, and senior Tray Wilson had 23 carries for 142 yards and five touchdowns.
Louallen Jr. had completed 37 of 70 passes for 331 yards and two touchdowns. Three other players have thrown a pass and completed a pass as well. Short tossed a 58-yard touchdown pass, junior Taveon Moore had a 44-yard scoring pass and junior Sean Davis completed a 39-yard pass.
Tray Wilson is the top pass catcher with 13 catches for 121 yards and a score. Moore had five catches for 105 yards and a touchdown, Short had five catches for 55 yards and a score and Sean Davis had a 44-yard TD catch.
Ashten Wilson had five catches for 45 yards and senior JB Bines had five catches for 61 yards.
The offensive line has Brandon Streater at left tackle and Jordan Caldwell at right tackle. The left guard is Malik Gaskins with John Wallace starting at right guard. The center is Brandon Rollins.
Eason believes Central’s speed and athleticism are paying dividends on defense.
“Defensively I feel like we have been dominant at times,” he said. “We are very fast and the guys get after it.”
Senior defensive tackle Kobe Davis leads the Eagles in tackles for loss with eight and quarterback sacks with three among his 18 total tackles. Senior defensive end Dontavias Covington had 20 tackles, 4 ½ tackles for loss and two sacks. Junior defensive end Marques Allen was the leading tackler with 31.
Central closes out the season with a road game against Cheraw on October 11, is at home against Andrew Jackson on Octobert 18, at Chesterfield on October 25 and at home against North Central on November 1.
“I just want to see uc to continue to improve each week,” Eason said. “I believe that as long as we do that we will be where we want to be at the end of the year.”
