By Carey Reeder
Tribune Sports
SPRINGVILLE— Center Point defeated Springville 54-14 Friday night at Tiger Stadium to drop the Tigers to 2-5 on the season.
The Eagles were soaring early as Jalen Taylor scored from three yards out. The two-point conversion was successful, giving Center Point the 8-0 lead early in the first quarter.
Taylor added to his impressive first half with a 35-yard score and another Eagles two-point conversion to stretch their lead to 16-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Springville offense only crossed the 50-yard line once in the first half, resulting in a turnover on downs on the Center Point 30-yard line.
After it was all Jalen Taylor in the first quarter, Eagle quarterback Kendell Calloway made the second quarter about him. Calloway scored from two yards out early in the second quarter. Calloway would cap the Eagles dominate first half with a 68-yard sprint down the right sideline, giving Center Point the 32-0 lead at halftime. The Eagles were successful on all four two-point conversion attempts in the first half.
“I thought our kids played hard but the injuries are catching up to us,” Springville coach Michael Graben said. “We just need to find a way to get Springville football over the hump.”
Springville had a combined 15 players listed as out coming into Friday night’s matchup,
Center Point continued their stellar performance in the second half as Leon Silmon recovered a Springville fumble and returned it 55 yards for the touchdown.
Center point would get on the board again in the third quarter with Calloway completing a six-yard touchdown pass to RJ Orr to put the Eagles up 46-0 heading to the final frame.
Bryce Storie recovered a fumble at the Springville 30-yard line to set up the first Springville scoring drive of the night. Quarterback Austin Hutcheson capped the 11 play drive with a run from four yards out with 4:14 left in the game. Hutcheson added a four-yard touchdown pass to Jace Hayes late in the fourth. Center Point added a late touchdown as well; Noah Steen scored from 65 yards out to bring the final score to 54-14.
“That was our most complete performance of the year,” Center Point coach George Bates said. “This is our first year together with this group and I think we found our identity.”
Springville (2-5) will host Moody next Friday night.
Center Point (3-3) will host Sylacauga on the same night.