Evan Barcanic is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover North Canyon High School for AZPreps365.com

Central’s big plays proved to be too much for North Canyon, as they fell to 1-4 after a 43-22 loss September 22 in Phoenix.

The Rattlers came to Central as the underdog, but their hopes were high that this would be a pivotal game in turning around their season.

The game started with a bang, as Central fumbled on the opening kickoff return, and it was recovered by North Canyon. It got the ball down to the 2-yard line, but could not convert, turning the ball over on downs. Central and North Canyon traded empty possessions, with the first quarter ending scoreless.

The Rattlers kept it close through the first 21 minutes of the game, leading the Bobcats 8-7 with 3 minutes left in the first half, thanks to a rushing touchdown by running back Adrian Montgomery.

North Canyon collapsed after that moment, however. It gave up two more touchdowns in the final two and a half minutes of the first half. It went into the half trailing 21-8.

The Rattlers gave up another touchdown two and a half minutes into the third quarter, capping off three unanswered touchdowns by Central over a five-minute period. This time, the Rattlers answered back with a score of their own: another rushing touchdown by Montgomery. They were in prime position to punch it in, thanks to three-straight penalties against the Central defense, totaling 45 penalty yards before the ball could even be snapped. The third quarter ended with North Canyon trailing, 28-16.

The start of the fourth quarter did not go according to plan. North Canyon quarterback Ashton Brown threw an interception in the end zone. Central immediately threw a pick of its own, as North Canyon cornerback Damien Atchue got an interception only 47 seconds later.

The Rattlers’ inability to convert in the red zone struck again, as they turned the ball over on downs on Central’s 5-yard line. It came back to haunt them immediately. Central took the ball 90 yards three plays later, putting it ahead, 36-16.

North Canyon got the ball back and marched down the field, with Montgomery scoring his third rushing touchdown of the night two minutes later. Central shut down all hopes of a potential comeback, scoring yet another touchdown only 30 seconds after that.

No matter how well North Canyon drove down the field, it could not convert in the red zone, and could not stop the big plays from Central.

“One of our big problems is when we get in the red zone…we don’t punch it in,” said head coach Jeremy Dieck.

For Central, running back Khameron Athy scored three touchdowns, receiver Breon Ballard scored two, and receiver Ismail Foz scored one.