Top-ranked Central proves its dominance

Damion Jones-Moore, No. 1 Central Catholic's big-play running back, ran for just 30 yards through three quarters against No. 3 Woodland Hills' stingy defense.

He knew it was just a matter of time until the holes opened.

"The stamina kicked in," said Jones-Moore, after running for touchdowns of 42 and 50 yards in the final quarter of his team's 31-13 Quad East victory Friday over sloppy rival Woodland Hills at the Wolvarena.

"We got back to Central Catholic football. We had strayed from that, but we got back to it. The o-line, fullbacks, wideouts — everybody did a great job."

But Jones-Moore, who finished with a game-high 130 yards and three touchdowns rushing, and the Central Catholic offense may have benefited from — of all things — a Woodland Hills sack.

Early in the fourth quarter, with the Vikings (4-0, 2-0) facing a third-and-17 at their own 28 and leading 17-7, the Wolverines (3-1, 1-1) sacked quarterback Perry Hills for a big loss near the 5. But overzealous 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive lineman Mike Steals slammed Hills to finish the play, earning a 15-yard personal foul penalty and a permanent benching from coach George Novak.

Still, the Vikings had to punt, but they stripped sophomore returner Harry Randall and recovered at the 50. Two plays later, the running game returned and Jones-Moore scored on a 42-yard dash to put the game out of reach.

"They saw the weakness there," Novak said. "(Steals) is our biggest player."

It was part of a frustrating day for the Wolverines, who were penalized 10 times for 90 yards and committed two turnovers.

Part of that performance was due to Central Catholic's smothering defense. The Vikings limited the Wolverines to 86 yards rushing, and though Woodland Hills quarterback Pat Menifee threw for 207 yards and a pair of touchdowns, much of that total came late as his team was playing catch-up.

"I'm real close to being happy," Vikings coach Terry Totten said, holding his fingers two inches apart. "But at the end, we let down."

The potent Vikings offense didn't disappoint, though, in building a 17-0 halftime lead.

Hills scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter, and a pivotal sequence followed, as Woodland Hills went three and out on its next drive and faked the ensuing punt. Vikings linebacker Gavin Sandidge, however, tackled Randall a yard short of the first down.

Jones-Moore broke four tackles on a 20-yard scamper to the end zone two snaps later, and kicker Mitchell Maczura booted a 39-yard field goal at the end of the half.

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