Time is running out for Nash Central to make a playoffs push.

The Bulldogs are playing against a number of tiebreaker scenarios – none of which favor them – and a schedule that has just one game remaining. The Bulldogs are saying the right things, even after their 34-0 loss Friday night to Big East Conference leader Wilson Hunt.

There are things, however, that cannot be fixed with words, including a lack of offensive continuity and a tendancy to committ turnovers.

Both haunted the Bulldogs as they dropped to 3-6 overall and 1-3 in league play.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen next week,” Nash Central coach Kevin Crudup said. “There is a glimmer of hope, and we’ll see what happens next week.”

The Bulldogs turned over the ball four times, including three fumbles and an interception. The most costly of the turnovers came late in the first half when Isaiah White stepped in front of a Khalil Macklin throw at the Wilson Hunt 14-yard line.

The interception ended what was a 15-play drive by Nash Central, which only trailed, 7-0, at the time.

On the next play, Daniel Westbrook found Markus Barnes wide open for a 51-yard touchdown reception – Wilson Hunt 14, Nash Central 0.

And for a team that struggles to score (Nash Central finished with only 132 total yards of offense), the Bulldogs’ turnover and defensive breakdown were backbreakers.

“It took away some of our momentum,” said Bulldogs linebacker Collin Staton, who recorded an interception. “We were expecting go into halftime down 7-0, or at least get a score.”

From there, the game turned into a drawn-out rout. Nash Central’s defense held Wilson Hunt running back Josh Joyner (160 yards rushing) to only one big play – a 68-yard run in the second half. Nash Central plays host to second-place Southern Nash on Friday. A win doesn’t guarantee it anything but a glimmer of hope.

“We don’t want this to be our last week,” Staton said. “We’ll come to practice Monday prepared to get ready for Southern.”

Wilson Hunt 34
Nash Central 0
WH           7    7    10    10    –    34
NC             0    0    0    0    –       0
First Quarter
WH – Kentrell Brown 22 pass from Daniel Westbrook (Brian Orellana kick), 3:01
Second Quarter
WH – Markus Barnes 51 pass from Westbrook (Orellana kick), 0:27
Third Quarter
WH – Orellana 26 FG, 9:07
WH – Josh Joyner 68 run (Orellana kick), 6:33
Fourth Quarter
WH – Orellana 26 FG, 8:07
WH – Sam Mayo 5 run, (Orellana kick), 3:06
WHNC
10    First downs................8
36–239    Rushes-yards...38–132
78    Passing yards..............4
6–12–1    Passes..................1–6–1
317    Total offense...........136
0–0    Fumbles-Lost.........5–3
9–80    Penalties-Yards......2–20
Individual Statistics
Rushing – WH: Josh Joyner 14-160; Bryan Brown 12-39; Sam Mayo 2-12; Chakez Edwards 3-10; Adam Bennett 2-7; Alvin Artis 1-7; Gustavo Wences 2-4; Daniel Westbrook 1-1; Markus Barnes 1-(-1). NC: Khalil Macklin 20-67; No. 20 10-37; Colin Staton 5-22; Jarrod Richardon 3-8.
Passing – WH: Daniel Westbrook 6-12, 78. NC: Khalil Macklin 1-2, 4; Tyler Barrow 0-4, 0.
Receiving – WH: Markus Barnes 1-51; Bryan Brown 1-15; Kentrell Brown 1-14; Darrion Ballard 1-8; Josh Joyner 1-8; Isaiah White 1-(-2). NC: Jarrod Richardson 1-4.

Jessie H. Nunery can be reached at 407-9959 or jhnunery@rmtelegram.com