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By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal

The Central Lions and the Calhoun Tigers both took it on the chin in regional contests on the road on Friday, Oct. 27.

The Lions, coming off a heartbreaking non-regional loss to Southside, Selma on the road 52-46 in overtime last week, and down three linemen, ran into a buzz saw in regional opponent Luverne, falling 48-6.

The Calhoun Tigers fell to New Brockton 48-0 in a regional contest.

Central Football

The loss by Central to Luverne dropped the Lions to 2-7 overall and 2-4 in Class 2A Region 3.

“We are not a team that can miss practice and expect to play well against a sound, well coached team,” said Central head football coach Quinn Hambrite.

Hambrite said three missing linemen were felt in the trenches. “We couldn’t pass protect nor run block the entire game,” he said.

Hambrite said half his team went on a trip with the Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (JROTC) on Monday and Tuesday and only two seniors practiced on Thursday due to “senior skip day.”

The Lions’ lone score against Luverne came on the first play of the third quarter when Keegan Blackman connected with David Baldwin on a touchdown pass.

Hambrite said one of his missing linemen is out for the season with a back injury. However, he said of his team’s next game, “I hope we can pull this one off at home on senior night.”

The Lions will end the season at home in a non-regional contest against Keith on Friday, Nov. 3.

Calhoun Football

The Calhoun loss to New Brockton dropped the Tigers to 0-9 overall and 0-6 in Class 2A Region 3 play.

According to Calhoun head football coach Ervin Starr’s count, the Tigers’ losing streak is now at 30 games with a home game left to play to end the season.

“We got out ‘physicalled’ tonight,” Starr said of the Tigers’ loss to New Brockton. “You could clearly see that New Brockton was stronger and faster than us.” He said.

Starr said his Tigers did not come out with any fire and that New Brockton could sense they were not motivated.

He said New Brockton scored on their first two plays from scrimmage with basic running plays.

“But we will do our best to get the guys up for homecoming next week. It will also be the last game for our seniors,” Starr said.

Calhoun will host Geneva High in a non-reginal encounter for the last game of the season on Friday, Nov. 3.