Bryant and Jenkins combine for 287 yards on 55 carries
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, Oct. 25 — The Bulldog offense was churning Friday night, as Luray ground out 361 yards and picked up 17 first downs. Junior running back Cason Bryant and sophomore running back Ryan Jenkins combined for 287 yards on 55 carries. However, the Bulldogs would turn the ball over twice in the second half, while the Falcons of Central scored on four of their final six possessions en route to a 43-20 Bull Run District win.
Despite the turnovers, Luray won the time of possession battle and sustained several long drives. The opening drive lasted 10 plays and picked up three first downs before the Bulldogs punted. Central then took the ball 66 yards in five plays, ending with a 22-yard touchdown run by senior running back Jacob Williams-Warner. The Falcons lead 6-0 with 4:06 left in the first quarter.
Luray answered back with a 12-play drive covering 80 yards and taking 5:46 off the clock. Bryant rambled in from 12 yards out and a successful PAT by senior Jakob Choat gave Luray a 7-6 lead with 10:20 left in the half. An onside kick attempt by the Bulldogs proved successful — stealing a possession away from Central — but the ensuing Luray drive stalled after picking up one first down.
The Falcons then went three-and-out, and Luray would punt it back to Central after a nine-play drive stalled out following a penalty and a fumble that set up 3rd-and-19. The Falcons then went to the air — completing three-of-four passes on the next drive, including a 40-yard touchdown reception by senior Nicholas Barahona. Luray held the lead almost the entire second quarter, but Central hit pay dirt with just 15 seconds remaining. The Falcons went into halftime leading 14-7 after a Williams-Warner two-point conversion.
Luray attempted another onside kick that ended up giving Central great field position to start the second half. It took only three plays to go 48 yards, ending with a 24-yard touchdown run by sophomore Christopher Brown. The drive took only 52 seconds off the clock, and Central lead 22-7.
The Bulldogs would turn the ball over on downs on their next possession after driving 36 yards on nine plays and picking up two first downs. The Falcons took over on their own 19-yard-line and immediately threw an interception snagged by junior Nick Cubbage. Central’s only turnover sparked a three-play drive by the Bulldogs, and a 29-yard touchdown run by Jenkins. Luray closed the gap to 22-13 with 4:45 left in the third quarter.
Central would score on their next three possessions wedged between a Luray fumble and a punt. Brown ended a four-play drive with a two-yard touchdown run. That drive started on the Falcon-30 after a long return to the red zone by junior Sean Stead was called back on an illegal block. It was followed by runs of 18, 49, 1 and 2. Central then scored in three plays on its next drive, ending with a 16-yard touchdown run by senior Brady Hecker. That drive began with a holding penalty calling back an 11-yard touchdown by Brown immediately following the Luray fumble. The third drive took only one play, as Williams-Warner went 45 yards to the end zone. The Falcons lead 43-13 with 8:31 left in the game.
Luray fumbled on their next possession, but then stalled out a Central drive after nine plays. The Bulldogs final possession found the end zone in just three plays after a 35-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Ayden Haddock to Cubbage. That capped off the scorrin at 43-20.
Jenkins ended the night with 142 yards on 32 carries (4.4 avg for #44), while Bryant had 145 yards on 23 carries (6.3 avg). Haddock had 27 yards on the ground and went 1-for-2 through the air. The Bulldogs committed two turnovers (both in second half) and were penalized twice in each half.
For Central, Brown rushed for 136 yards on 11 carries (12.4 avg) and two touchdowns, while Williams-Warner had 119 yards on six carries (19.8 avg) with two touchdowns as well. Senior quarterback Andrew Folk went 3-for-5 passing for 71 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing 22 yards on four carries.
Luray (0-3, 1-7) has two games remaining in the regular season. The Bulldogs travel to Berryville to face Clarke County (3-0, 8-0) next Friday night, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. The Eagles squeezed out a tough, 7-6 win over formerly undefeated Strasburg on Friday night at home. Luray ends the season Nov. 8 by hosting rival Page County (0-3, 2-6).
Central (2-1, 3-5) will end its regular season Nov. 8 by hosting Strasburg (2-1, 7-1). The Rams ended their regular season with three tough district foes — Clarke (7-6 loss), Madison (Nov. 1) and Central (Nov. 8).
For schedules, rosters and results, check the Bull Run District website.
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