Central falls to Cedar Ridge Christian
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
The Central football team has lost back-to-back games for the first time this season, after falling 41-26 to Cedar Ridge Christian in an Oct. 3 non-district match-up.
The Regents were up 6-0 in the first quarter, when the Warriors evened the score on a 31-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Griffen Hammersland to brother Owen Hammersland. Central went ahead in the second quarter on another long Hammersland-to-Hammersland completion, this time for 40 yards.
Central scored once more in the quarter on a 10-yard run by O. Hammersland, entering halftime with a 20-13 advantage. However, Cedar Ridge Christian rattled off 14 unanswered points after the break to lead 27-20 at the start of the fourth quarter.
Although G. Hammersland made it into the end zone from two yards out in the fourth quarter, the Regents had continued to tack on, putting the game out of reach.
G. Hammersland completed four of nine passes overall, throwing for 118 yards and two touchdowns, but also two interceptions. O. Hammersland caught the two touchdown passes for 71 yards, and Zane Embretson snagged a 35-yard completion.
On the ground, O. Hammersland put up 105 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, while George Reimer earned 41 yards on 13 attempts. G. Hammersland ran the ball nine times for 27 yards and a touchdown.
Cedar Ridge Christian hit the Warriors with a balanced offensive attack, collecting 180 yards and four touchdowns through the air, then another 146 yards and two TDs on the ground.
Adding to his offensive success, O. Hammersland led the Warriors with 10 total tackles—3 of which were for a loss. Max Fettkether totaled 6 tackles and Garret Burns 5, and each forced a fumble. The latter gave the Warriors a shot late in the game. Preston Kulper finished the game with 3.5 tackles, while Reimer and Jake Hertrampf each secured 3.
“Overall, Friday night was not a reflection of who we are as a program. We came out flat, and the lack of energy hurt us. Mental mistakes and turnovers also really hurt us, and we let it consume us,” said Central Head Coach J.W. Downs.
Moving into next week, Downs feels the Warriors need to enjoy the game for what it is, and not let any external factors keep them from doing that.
“Protect the football, play physical, play together. Getting back to our identity of playing our style of football. We’re going to focus on having a great week of practice and improving in every aspect on all sides of the ball,” he said.
Now 4-2 overall and 3-1 in Eight-man - District 4 play, Central will welcome eighth-ranked Easton Valley to Elkader this Friday, Oct. 10. The River Hawks’ lone loss this season was this past week to sixth-ranked Edgewood-Colesburg, who the Warriors will play the final week of the regular season.
Downs said both are important district games.
“Moving into this final stretch, we want to focus on continuing to improve as a team and protecting the football. Ignoring the external factors, playing together and having fun will be the emphasis for this week,” he shared. “We want to enjoy these moments as players and as coaches as we close out this season. The rest will take care of itself.”
