Doyal D'Angelo is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Central High School for AZPreps365.com

Central freshman quarterback Cam Allen was happy to have his best statistical game this season Friday during what was a night of commemoration for his late family friend, Corvel Simmons.

Simmons played football for Central between 2017-2020, and had been living with the Allen family for some time until he died heroically saving his then-pregnant girlfriend from drowning during a paddleboard accident off Canyon Lake. 

Simmons wore the number 42 during his time with the Bobcats and so Allen, on the night before Simmons’ birthday, decided to don that number in remembrance of him.

“I wore that number because he means a lot to me,” Allen said. “I just wanted to make him proud.”

Allen showed no mercy to Betty H. Fairfax on Friday, scoring in big chunks throughout the night, and

completing 13 of 22 passes for 340 yards and six touchdowns, en route to a 56-14 victory. 

Five of Allen's six touchdowns went to different receivers and were completions of over 20 yards. 

“The deep ball was working really well tonight,” Allen said. “Our guys have speed and we were using that to our advantage.” 

This was the best game of Allen’s young career and he has tallied 24 touchdowns as a true freshman, already five more than Spencer Rattler had in his first year at Pinnacle. 

Allen led a deadly offense that showed just how many playmakers the Bobcats have, as they opened up a 35-0 lead in the first half.

Senior guard Isaac Calderon felt that the team had great energy all night, especially on the offensive line. 

“Our starting five did a great job giving (Allen) time to make plays tonight,” Calderon said. 

Allen took a more prominent role in the offense after facing some early adversity. 

Coming off the heels of a Jose Cardenas fumble recovery, senior running back Khameron Athy scored his second touchdown of the first quarter on a 5-yard scramble by breaking tackles and delivering a strong stiff arm, which made it 13-0 at the 5:33 mark. 

Athy somehow scored while limping his way to the end zone but he fell down immediately in pain, clutching his left hamstring. 

Athy did not return to the game but Central coach Chandler Hovik says the injury should not be a major issue going forward. 

“He should be OK,” Hovik said. “He’s got a strain in his leg but should be back for next week.” 

Despite the obvious anxiety from Athy’s injury, Allen and the Bobcats seemed to play even harder because of it. 

Senior Ismail Foz helped stretch the lead 20-0 by getting an interception return for a touchdown with just under three minutes remaining in the first quarter. Central then put the game away in what was a wild second quarter that featured four straight touchdown passes from Allen. 

The string began with a 40-yarder to Cardenas, followed bt an 8-yarder to Foz, an 84-yard bomb to the lengthy Cassidee Miles, and a 60-yarder to Breon Ballard.

The eight-minute first-half barrage was capped by another touchdown from Ballard, this one being a 40-yard punt return. 

Ballard finished the game with three receptions for 122 yards and three total touchdowns.

Foz, who plays cornerback, receiver, and kicker for Central, was a two-way standout along with Cardenas. Foz had a touchdown on both sides of the ball, while Cardenas had 50 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown to go with a fumble recovery and a sack. 

“There were alot of things to like about tonight,” Hovik said. “Now we have to look ahead to this important division matchup.” 

No. 14 Central (7-1) looks ahead to a 5A Metro division bout at Ray Laing Field at 7 p.m. against the North Mustangs (4-4) that would help further ensure their current playoff status. The Stampede (0-8) will host the Camelback Spartans (3-5) at 7 p.m. Friday.