Griffin gets first win at Center Point

By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor

CENTER POINT – The Center Point Eagles picked up a 21-20 victory over the Fultondale Wildcats on Friday night to get Grady Griffin his first win at the school.  The game was plagued with penalties and some missed opportunities, but Griffin’s Eagles seemingly gained some offensive footing and made enough plays to get their head coach his first win at Center Point.

Center Point’s Dontarius Acoff goes up for the catch.
Credit: Travis Frontz

The game started out with the Eagles’ defense stifling Fultondale on the first drive.  Kelvin “KJ” Williams had some explosive hits on the drive and dealt fits for the Wildcats’ offensive line.  When Center Point got the ball, they took advantage of a key third and long wh

ere Cameron White caught a Navian Gardiner pass, but was short of the first down, but the Wildcats committed a facemask to set the Eagles up deep in Fultondale territory.  Despite scoring a touchdown that was called back for a holding penalty, the Eagles struck first blood on a three-yard scamper by Makai Gallego, who also got the two point conversion, making it 8-0.

Both defenses would stalemate until there were just 43 seconds left in the quarter.  From there, the Wildcats found a rare hole in the Center Point defense and score on a long run.  The PAT was no good, so the score stood at 8-6 Eagles after the first period.

The defensive battle continued in the second quarter as both teams would punt the ball back and forth.  The Eagles did attempt a 35-yard field goal, but it came up just short.

With just over half of the second quarter to play, Fultondale would hit a big 24-yard touchdown pass to go up 12-8.  The Eagles would drive, but come up short after a fourth down attempt with two minutes on the clock.  The defense held, sending the teams into the break with the Wildcats leading 12-8.

Center Point came out in the third driving the ball before Cameron White fumbled the ball, setting the Wildcats up with good field position.  As it did most of the night, the defense stood tall and did not allow the mishap to cost them any points.

Fultondale punted the ball deep inside Center Point territory, but the Eagles’ offense flipped a switch.  Gardiner found Dontarius Acoff on a long pass play that set the Eagles up at the 25-yard line.  Gardiner called his own number and busted open a 25-yard touchdown run to put his team back on top 15-12.

The defense held once again and the Eagles were soaring until another fumble set Fultondale up at the 27 with 1:53 to go in the third.  However, the Wildcats could find no room and the final frame started with the home team ahead by three points.

At the 9:56 mark of the fourth, Fultondale fumbled the ball and the Eagles recovered.  After an amazing tipped-ball catch by Aiden Padgett Robinson, the Eagles were in business at the seven-yard line.  Gardiner hit White for a touchdown and Center Point was up 21-12 with 6:53 to play.

The Eagles let Fultondale get down the field due to multiple penalties, including a defensive holding that negated an interception.  Fultondale capitalized and sliced the Eagles’ lead to 21-20 with 51 seconds to play.

Center Point got the onside kick and a victory formation would seal the deal for the Eagles.

Gardiner finished the night with 184 total yards and two touchdowns.  Gallego added 70 yards and a touchdown as well.

“We have a really, really young team,” said coach Grady Griffin.  “We have some great coaches and this is amazing.  Tip my hat to Fultondale.  Our defensive coordinator Flipp Madison and coach Walker did an amazing job.  On offense, those guys made things easy on me.  We get to celebrate until about 1 o’clock Sunday.  We have to fix mistakes and capitalize.”

Running back Makai Gallego said, “It feels great.  We worked hard all summer.  After our first loss, it was like ‘is Center Point going to come back’ and we showed that you can never count us out.

Jayden Moore said, “It’s an amazing feeling but the work don’t stop here and we have to keep working.”

The Eagles take on Shades Valley on Friday in a battle of teams who are sitting at 1-1.  This will be the first region game for both Tribune area teams.