Ball won't bounce Central Catholic's way in final minute

Central Catholic, a last-second winner Sept. 9 against Abbeville, ran a bit short of magic in Friday's 41-38 loss to visiting Riverside Academy.

After trailing 27-7 late in the first half, Central Catholic came back to within striking distance in the game's final minute.

Behind by 11 at the 43-second mark, running back Todd Blackburn took a screen pass from lefty sophomore quarterback Benjamin Case 70 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown. Blackburn's 2-point run pulled the Eagles to within three points.

Central Catholic's Tate Aucoin bounced a near-perfect onside kick near Riverside's 40. But Riverside quarterback Luke Hymel, in for special teams play, swooped down to recover the ball and secure the win.

Both teams are now 2-1.

Riverside controlled the first half behind a punishing offensive line and an even more punishing back in senior Elijah Davis.

Davis carried the ball 37 times for 299 yards, including touchdown runs of 5, 2 and 24 yards.

So it's not a big surprise that Hymel threw only six passes. But he completed four of them, including a 43-yard touchdown to tight end Scott White that gave Riverside a 13-7 lead.

Touchdown runs of 1 yard by Hymel and 2 yards by Davis gave Riverside its first-half lead.

But with 23 seconds left before the break, Case and Blackburn connected for a 55-yard touchdown pass that drew Central Catholic to within two scores at 27-14.

The Eagles started the second half with a 13-play drive extended when Andrew Cavalier recovered a muffed punt at Riverside's 35. But the Eagles stalled at the Riverside 16-yard line.

Blackburn (1 yard) and Davis (24 yards) swapped touchdowns before Blackburn took a Case pass 56 yards for a score and added the 2-point run to make it 34-30.

But Hymel's second 1-yard TD and Craig Matt's kick put Central Catholic in a 41-30 hole the Eagles couldn't escape with 1:17 left in the game.

Blackburn rushed 19 times for 89 yards and two touchdowns and caught three touchdown passes for a total of 181 yards.

He accounted for most of Case's 267 passing yards in an 8-for-17 performance by the sophomore with one interception. Vernon Singleton also caught a 44-yard pass from Case.
Central Catholic will be at home against Covenant Christian on Thursday.