By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal

The Central High School Lions could not stay out of their own way Friday night, falling 14-0 to the arch rival  Calhoun Tigers for homecoming in Hayneville Friday night.

The win improved the Tigers to 2-7 on the season with a trip to Francis Marion remaining.

The Lions, now 0-9 for the season, had two potentially game-tying touchdowns called back due to penalties.

“That’s part of the game,” Central High head football coach James Bibb said of his team’s costly penalties.

“It almost sounds impossible, but you’ve got to almost try to play mistake free ball,” he said. “We’re not good enough to make that many penalties and be successful.”

Bibb said Calhoun was very athletic with players like Jamine Jordan and Jamarcus Davison.

While the Lions feature their own standout in Terraris (T.J.) Saffold, “It’s got to be a total team effort,” Bibb said. “We can’t ride one man.”

Bibb said his team had a long way to go. But, “This is the beginning,” he said. “It’s not the end, it’s the beginning.”

The Lions have a date with Flomaton on the road remaining.

Calhoun struck first on a 5-yard run by Jemarcus Rhimes at the 3:38 mark of the first quarter. A 2-point try failed, and Calhoun led 6-0.

A big gain by Saffold a short time later for the Lions was negated due to a penalty.

And a 1-yard touchdown run by Saffold was called back due to a blocking below the waist call, allowing the Tigers to take a 6-0 lead into the half.

Jordan would make it a 14-0 lead for the Tigers at the 4:11 mark of the third quarter.

He gained about 37 yards to put Calhoun in business at the Central 10-yard line. Davison moved the ball to the 2-yardline and Jordan scored on a 2-yard touchdown run. Jordan also called his own number on a 2-point conversion.

Saffold appeared to answer for the Lions once again on a 22-yard touchdown run, but this time an illegal formation call wiped the score off the board.

“I’m as proud as I can be,” a happy Calhoun head football coach Bill Williamson said.

“I though we played great,” Williamson said, “I thought Central was well prepared and well coached. I’m proud to win.”