MACON — Ronnie Sciple isn”t going to have many lives left if the Central Academy football team continues its high-wire act.
Three weeks into the 2011 season and the Vikings have showed impeccable timing and an ability to wiggle their way out of dire situations to earn victories.
The latest came last week in 34-26 victory against Delta Academy in Marks. Cole Newman”s 6-yard pass to hit Drew Pearson with 50 seconds left helped the Vikings improve to 3-0.
Sciple joked last week that last-second victories against Calvary Christian and Calhoun Academy were making him even grayer. He said earlier this week that the latest win caused him to lose some of what hair he has left on the top of his head.
“We came out and played good and went up 12-0,” Sciple said. “With about four minutes left in the first half we let them score two times. It put me a little gray-headed a little bit more.”
Central Academy couldn”t catch a break. A tipped pass went for a touchdown, a Delta Academy was thought to be down but play wasn”t whistled dead and he went for another score, and the Vikings allowed another touchdown on a sweep.
Losing offensive lineman Redmun Butler to dehydration didn”t make matters any easier, but Pearson led the way with 21 tackles and newcomer Marcus Gardner came back from rolling his ankle to catch a 20-yard touchdown pass from Newman to spark the offense.
Newman scored on a 6-yard run in the first quarter. He was 7 of 11 for 109 yards. He also found Britt Reynolds on a 46-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.
Pearson (10 carries, 99 yards) also scored on a 2-yard run.
Sciple praised the play of sophomore running back T.J. Coleman and Steven Lang, which allowed the Vikings not to have to rely as much as Newman, who saw most of his action on defense.
“We used everybody,” Sciple said. “We rotated Russ Taylor and Steven in on offense (in pace of Butler) and they did a good job.”
Sciple said he doesn”t want to expect his team will win a game in the final minute, but he it is getting to that point. He hopes tonight”s homecoming game against Marvell Academy (Ark.) will give him an opportunity to use other players, especially with games against Kemper Academy and The Veritas School coming in the next two weeks.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.