(Ste. Genevieve, MO) The Ste. Genevieve Dragons fend off a final hope drive by the Central Rebels to improve to 4-1 on Friday. 3 Dragon touchdowns were just enough for the Dragons who outlasted the Rebels 21-20.
An Emotional Ste. Genevieve Head Coach, Jay Pope, says this is the biggest win of his coaching tenure with the Dragons.
Sophomore quarterback, Luke Ferranto completed 11 of 16 passes to go along with his 20 carries as he marched the Ste. Gen offense through the rugged Central defense. Ferranto collected 168 passing yards and added 79 yards on the ground.
Pope says Ferranto’s preparation through the season is paying off.
Ste. Gen’s Wyatt Springkamper made one reception for 14 yards finding the endzone. He added a rushing touchdown through a total of 46 yards on 7 carries. Aiden Meyer scored the opening touchdown with a receiving touchdown.
Senior running back, Jack Farlow, totaled 33 yards on 10 carries. While wide receiver, Tucker Reed, earned 79 yards on 4 receptions.
The Central Rebels used a combination of quarterbacks in the place of Casen Murphy who is sidelined with a right elbow injury. Jobe Bryant and Jaxon Jones were used in the shotgun throughout the night. Rebels Head Coach, Kory Schweiss, says the injuries to key players, Casen Murphy and Kannon Harlow, have dealt a blow to the offensive deception his team has had the last couple of years.
Central punched in two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and tried to take the lead with a 2-point conversion play after the second touchdown with 6 minutes left in regulation. However, the Rebels would fail to score on the 2-point play for the second time in the game, keeping Ste. Gen ahead by a point.
Schweiss adds there’s a chance the pair of teams will square off again in the playoffs.
Ste. Genevieve’s final possession was punted away and with under a minute left Jobe Bryant and the Central offense pushed the Dragons defense beyond the 50 yard line but a desperation 4th down pass attempt to Caden Casey was incomplete and the Dragons knelt the remaining 4 seconds and take the victory.
It’s the first Ste. Gen win over Central since November 2019 when Mateus Lacerda hit a go-ahead field goal in the District Playoffs.
Ste. Genevieve improves to 4-1 and play the Potosi Trojans on the road in Week 6, while the Central Rebels return home to host the Valle Catholic Warriors who have shutout their last 3 opponents. Central is 3-2.
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Week 5 Scores:
Thursday
Perryville def. Sullivan 48-14
Friday
Farmington def. Lift For Life 17-14
Mount Vernon, IL def. North County 28-14
Valle Catholic def. St. Vincent 54-0
Potosi def. Fredericktown 27-14
Hillsboro def. Festus 42-21
Widnsor def. DeSoto 29-6
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