Midlothian completes 17-point comeback to beat Centennial
Midlothian scores three unanswered touchdowns in fourth quarter
BURLESON – The Midlothian Panthers completed a 17-point comeback to beat the Centennial Spartans 37-33 Friday at Burleson ISD Stadium.
Midlothian (3-0 in district, 6-1 overall) scored its third unanswered touchdown of the fourth quarter and took its first lead of the game on junior quarterback Beau Wendel’s eight-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Brendyn Jackson to bring the score to 37-33 after the extra point with 13 seconds left in the game.
Jackson caught two passes–both touchdowns–for 47 yards. Wendel completed six of 13 passes for 156 yards and two touchdown passes.
Centennial scored the first touchdown of the game on junior running back Jaylon Walker’s one-yard rush to cap off an 11-play opening drive and give Centennial (1-1 in district, 3-3 overall) a 7-0 lead after the extra point with 6:48 left in the first quarter.
Walker rushed for a game-high 109 yards and scored two touchdowns on 20 carries in the win.
After Centennial forced a three-and-out on Midlothian’s first possession, senior receiver/defensive back Keilan Gregory returned the punt 72 yards from Centennial’s 18-yard line to Midlothian’s 10 to set up a first and goal for Centennial.
After a six-yard run, Walker scored his second touchdown on a four-yard run to increase Centennial’s lead to 14-0 with 3:42 left in the first.
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After an 86-yard catch-and-run by Midlothian senior running back Kayden Gibson on third down to set Midlothian up on Centennial’s four-yard line, senior running back David Aborisade scored on a four-yard run to cut Centennial’s lead to 14-7 with 7:05 left in the second quarter.
Aborisade ran for 26 yards and the touchdown on five carries. Gibson caught four passes for 109 yards.
Centennial finished a seven-play drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Jacob Torres to senior receiver Damien Long to increase its lead to 20-7 with 6:38 left in the third quarter.
Midlothian blocked the extra point attempt and junior defensive back Carson Kemp returned it for a two-point conversion to cut Centennial's lead to 20-9.
Torres completed 13 of 21 passes for 133 yards and two touchdown passes with an interception. Long caught five passes for 45 yards and the touchdown and scored a 60-yard rushing touchdown.
After Midlothian turned the ball over on downs, Centennial took over on Midlothian’s 49-yard line and drove down the field in eight plays and scored as Torres completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Dane Burnett to bring the score to 26-9 after the missed extra point with 2:23 left in the third.
Midlothian completed a 65-yard drive in six plays as Wendel completed a 39-yard touchdown pass to Jackson and senior defensive back Zechariah Washington ran in the two-point conversion to cut Centennial's lead to 26-17 with 11:52 left in the fourth.
Following an eight-yard run by Walker on Centennial’s first play of the next possession, Long scored on a 60-yard touchdown run to bring Centennial's lead to 33-17 with 11:01 left in the fourth.
Beginning the next possession at their own 42-yard line, Midlothian drove down in seven plays and scored on junior running back Michael Archie’s one-yard rush to cut Centennial's lead to 33-23 after a failed two-point conversion with 8:22 left in the game.
Archie ran for 39 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries.
Centennial failed to gain a first down on their next possession and turned the ball over on downs at their own 34-yard line. Centennial opted to go for it on fourth-and-one after gaining five penalty yards when Midlothian ran into junior punter Jack Miller on fourth-and-six.
After a 14-yard run by sophomore receiver Kentorion King, Archie scored his second touchdown of the game on a 20-yard run to pull Midlothian within three points and bring the score to 33-30 with 6:09 left.
King led Midlothian with 86 rushing yards on seven carries.
Centennial punted from their own 32-yard line to give Midlothian the ball on their own 41-yard line with 3:15 left.
Midlothian drove down the field in 10 plays and left Centennial with 13 seconds to score after taking their only lead of the game on Wendel’s touchdown pass to Jackson.
Centennial senior receiver led Centennial with 72 receiving yards on five catches.
Senior linebacker Meziah Ababio and junior defensive end Andre Hoffman led Centennial with seven tackles each. Hoffman added two sacks.
Senior running back Jaxon Williams ran for 45 yards on 10 carries.
Centennial will look to bounce back as they face the Tyler Lions (2-1 in district, 4-3 overall) Friday at 7 p.m. at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Francis Rose Stadium in Tyler.
Tyler has won two straight games after beating the Cleburne Yellow Jackets (0-3, 0-7) 45-22 Friday and the Joshua Owls (0-3, 4-3) 24-7 October 4 after opening district play with a 35-9 loss to the Highland Park Scots (2-0, 5-1) September 27.
Midlothian will look to remain undefeated in district after a bye week when they face Tyler October 25 at 7 p.m. at Midlothian ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium in Midlothian.