Braves bound for playoffs with big win

By ERIC W. BOLIN World Correspondent - 11/7/2009


Demarco Cobbs saved his best for last.

The senior quarterback ran for 244 yards and three scores, had five tackles and a blocked field goal to vault Central past Stilwell 33-3 on Friday night.

Cobbs, a Texas commit, lifted Central (8-2, 5-2 District 5A-4) to its first playoff berth since 2003 with the 1986 Central state finals team in attendance.

"I'm so proud of our team," said Braves coach Corey Russell. "These kids remember when we couldn't win a game here. I used to question if I was even in the right profession. 'Am I really a football coach or am I a teacher?' Tonight makes everything worth it."

The Central win also eliminated Stilwell (3-7, 3-4) from playoff contention. The Indians needed a win against the Braves and an Ada win at McAlester to qualify for the postseason.

It wasn't to be for the Indians as Cobbs opened the scoring on the second play of the game when he scampered to the left side and outran the defense on his way to a 77-yard touchdown.

Central then forced the Stilwell offense to punt on the ensuing drive and Cobbs ran for another score on the Braves' second drive.

Stilwell's defense held in the second quarter, and the Indians appeared to have cut the deficit to just four when Zack Bean caught a pass near the end zone on fourth down. But the officials marked him out of bounds at the 1, and the Braves took over.

Indians turnovers sealed their fate as a second-half fumble was returned for a Braves touchdown and an interception killed a late drive.

It wasn't all pretty for Central, though, as the Braves fumbled the ball five times and muffed it two others. Those mistakes must change, Russell said, if the Braves want to advance deep into the playoffs.

"I think we have Bixby first round and they'll be tough," Russell said. "But we've accomplished something that, on paper, we shouldn't have, especially given everything these kids have been through in the last three years."

CENTRAL 33, STILWELL 3

Stilwell 3 0 0 0 — 3
Central 13 0 14 6 — 33

C: Cobbs 77 run (Huerta kick)

C: Cobbs 30 run (Kick failed)

C: Anderson 35 fumble recovery (Cobbs run)

S: Keller 22 field goal

C: Cobbs 5 run (Huerta kick)

C: Rucker 7 run (Kick blocked)

StilwellCentral First Downs1112 Rushes-Yards36-10839-390 Passing Yards6012 Comp-Att-Int8-12-11-5-0 Punts-Avg3-46.30-0.0 Fumbles-Lost2-25-2 Penalties-Yards1-129-80




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