UTICA — Enthusiasm was bubbling for the Centerburg football team heading into the season opener.
That bubble overflowed on Friday night when the Trojans roared to a 35-14 victory at nearby Utica.
“We were able to move the ball. We had lots of big explosive plays, which we figured we would be able to do,” Centerburg coach Coach Andy Colella said.
Among the big plays was Florida recruit Jackson Ballinger getting loose for this long touchdown pass (in the video below).
“We had our quarterback back this week. I think they were doing some things to take away our running back, which they should, because he’s a great football player,” the coach said. “So that’s going to open up other things on the outside and down the field which we were able to take advantage of.”
Colella was referring to running back Miles Marshall, who scored in the first quarter and is poised for a big senior season.
But how far Centerburg goes could depend on its new faces.
“We had a lot of new guys in there starting and rotating guys in and things like that, and the nerves of Week One, it’s hot outside, all of those things there, but super proud of the kids for the way that they hung in there,” Collella said.
“In the second half, we just kind of settled in and did what we have been doing for quite a while, so it was fun to see that.”
Centerburg travels to Johnstown next week.
Utica will host Danville.
(Photos by Cheryl Splain.)
