East Ridge is still in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs.
Central knows it has only one more game in its season after falling 42-6 to the Pioneers in a District 6-AA elimination game Friday night.
"Our kids approached it as the playoffs because we told them we have to win out," East Ridge coach Mike Martin said. "We have to finish it out next week at Brainerd.
East Ridge senior Emmanuel Harris scored three touchdowns for the Pioneers (5-4, 4-2), and the Pounders (3-6, 2-4) had seven official turnovers, not counting a blocked punt and failing to convert on a fourth down.
"It was just ugly. They scored every way you could, and they're just good," Central coach John Allen said. "We'll get them ready next week. We have one more game and then it's the offseason, and we'll work them out and get better."
The Pioneers were recipients of five turnovers in the first half. Some were forced, such as the interception by Avious Griffin in the corner of the end zone and fumbles recovered by C.J. Baker and Torrey Hughes
Other turnovers, such as a punt hitting a player's helmet and the ball slipping from Robert Cobb's hand as he wound up to pass, were more like gifts to East Ridge.
The summary of damage from those turnovers was a 21-6 deficit at halftime -- only two touchdowns on the scoreboard but much bigger in terms of morale.
East Ridge quarterback Eric McCurdy tossed three touchdown passes in the first half. The first covered 71 yards to Devonte White.
Central quickly responded with a 60-yard pass from Dominique Dawson to Donte Bibbs, who eluded one tackler and jogged in for six points.
Harris caught the other two touchdown throws from McCurdy on fade routes, the first from 10 yards and the second from 3 yards away.
"We came together as a team and our momentum rose and rose," said Harris, whose teammate Deonte Dokes led all players with 68 rushing yards.
The Pounders endured more of the same mistakes in the third quarter. Griffin came through untouched and blocked a punt back into the end zone, where Harris recovered it for a 28-6 lead. Then late in the quarter, Dominique Strickland intercepted a jump-ball and returned it 82 yards for a touchdown.
"We finished and that's something we talked about at halftime," Martin said. "Our special teams came through and our defense came through with points."