Howard defense stifles Pounders

By James Beach

sports@timesfreepress.com

The Howard “Tigerbone” offense hasn’t exactly reached “roar” status yet, but coach Alvin Tarver has seen his Hustlin’ Tigers handle the growing pains of a new offense thanks to an unyielding defense.

The Tigers slugged it out in the trenches Friday night at Central’s Etter Farmer Memorial Stadium and emerged with an important 19-6 District 6-AA victory over the Pounders.

“The defense played extremely well,” Tarver said. “We knew it would take some time to get this new offense rolling, but it is designed to utilize a lot of the athletes we have back there. Eventually, we’re going to need them to step up.”

For now, though, the 2-0 Tigers are wreaking havoc with a defense that held the Pounders to 96 total yards. Central’s scoring drive late in the game amassed 62 of those yards and produced two of the team’s three first downs in the game.

“We just got outcoached tonight. They were ready and we weren’t,” said Central coach Sam Montgomery “They hit us in the mouth and we never really responded.”

The Howard offense looked special in its opening drive, going 67 yards in 12 plays, quarterback Thomas McCauley lobbing it to Horace Hector for a 6-yard score a little over five minutes into the game. From that point on, Howard would make do with its defense and the opportunities it provided.

Hector put the Tigers back in business with an interception at the end of the quarter, but a heroic goal-line stand by the Pounders kept them at bay temporarily. Central’s joy turned to mudville on the first snap after the goal-line stand, though, when Scovia Covington fell on the first of his two fumble recoveries in the game at Central’s 6-yard line. Three plays later, Cadarius Harrison skipped into the end zone for a 13-0 lead.

To Central’s credit, the Pounders defense was stiff all night, limiting Howard to three first downs in the second half and 165 yards for the game. The Tigers got their final score following Central’s fourth turnover of the evening on a muffed punt that set Howard up at Central’s 11. Evander Rollins covered the final 9 yards for the score and a 19-0 lead midway through the third quarter.

Central’s lone score came when LaDarius Jackson scooted in from 7 yards away.

“Last year we came into this game 1-0 and lost to them, and our season just went south from that point on. Maybe this year we’ll go the other way thanks to this win,” Tarver said.

Howard was led offensively by Darrion Roshell’s three catches for 69 yards, while the defense was led by Jaumichael Hardy, Demetrius Wilson, Eric McCullough and Covington. Central (1-1) got outstanding play from Kevin Carter and Nickolay Timashuck