Tigers unable to stop Caldwell, Center High School ground attack
Nevada Daily Mail
In a game that was delayed 75 minutes due to lightning, the Nevada Tigers received a rude welcoming in their first West Central Conference football game, losing on the road Friday night to the Kansas City Center Yellowjackets, 33-14.
Yellowjackets' running back Tony Caldwell ran wild, gashing the Tiger defense for 153 yards and two touchdowns.
"We digressed a little bit up front on the offensive and defensive lines," NHS head coach Erik Yoakam said during a post-game radio interview. "We need to get more physical.
"We have to get a surge up front, or we won't win many ball games."
Caldwell put the Yellowjackets on the board first, with a 10-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter.
Later in the first half, Nevada wide receiver Thaddeus Mason hauled in a pass from quarterback Andrew Heathman, that went for a 37-yard touchdown.
With the score knotted 7-7, Center wide receiver Christian Cox put the Yellowjackets back in the lead, with a 39-yard touchdown grab.
After Nevada running back Chance Mays fumbled the ball deep in Tiger territory, the Yellowjackets quickly capitalized when wide receiver Ronnie Thomas scored on 20-yard sweep play. The extra point put Center up 21-7.
With just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter, Yellowjackets wing back Demarcus Burns pranced into the end zone from 26-yards out. After the extra point failed, the Yellowjackets led 27-7.
After the game, Yoakam said his team was "out-physicaled."
"We're going to line up and get active early in the week (at practice)," he said. "And see if we can change some things, and really get a clear understanding through to the kids of what we expect, and are asking them to do."
Nevada running back Chaden Brandt kept the Tigers in the game when he broke loose for a 73-yard rushing touchdown, slicing the lead to 27-14.
However, Caldwell put the game on ice with his second rushing touchdown, which came at the 9:34 mark of the fourth quarter.
Nevada next squares off against St. Pius X High School, at 7 p.m., Sept. 5 at Logan Field.
Game notes
Nevada backup quarterback Austin Deer was sidelined due to an undisclosed injury suffered during last week's game against Willard High School. Deer is also utilized in the "Wildcat" package.
His availability for next week's game is unknown at this time.