The biggest game of the season in Tri-Eastern Conference football went to the Centerville Bulldogs.
Centerville and Northeastern, the only two teams without a conference loss, met Friday, Sept. 22, on Marlin Craig Field, for Centerville’s homecoming.
Fueled by the energy of their largest crowd of the season, the Bulldogs built a 13-0 lead after one quarter, and expanded their advantage to 19-7 by halftime.
After the two teams went scoreless in the third quarter, the Bulldogs scored the first 13 points in the fourth quarter to take their largest lead of the game at 32-7.
The Knights scored with eight seconds to play in the game, making the final score 32-14.
Centerville’s defense dominated, while their offense piled up the points.
The Bulldog defense scored twice. The first time was on a 75-yard pick-six in the first quarter, the second time on another pick-six in the fourth quarter.
Centerville quarterback Jake Tinkle threw for 198 yards, connecting on three touchdown passes.
Both Northeastern touchdowns came on the ground.
The Bulldogs, who improved to 6-0 overall, are perched at the top of the TEC standings with a 5-0 league record and now control their own destiny. Northeastern fell to 5-1 overall, and 5-1 in league play.
Centerville will travel to Liberty on Friday, Sept. 29 to face winless Union County. Northeastern will host Shenandoah the same night in a non-conference game.
A version of this article appeared in the September 27 2023 print edition of the Western Wayne News.