Deshler sticks with the spread in win against Central

TUSCUMBIA - Deshler wide reciever Deion Belue score two first-quarter touchdowns on a 56-yard punt return and a 52-yard score after catching a screen pass from quarterback Chase Blackburn, and the Tigers jumped to a 28-0 first quarter lead en route to defeating Central 48-20.

Belue finished the game with 100 yards receiving on just three receptions. Blackburn was 7-for-9 passing for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

D.J. Box and DeAnthony Summerhill had first quarter touchdown runs of 62 and 22 yards, respectively. Box rushed for 105 yards on four carries.

Deshler (1-1, 1-0) had something to prove offensively after losing its season-opener to Russellville.

"We didn't execute well last week," Deshler head coach John Mothershed said. "Coach (Jared) Helms did a great job getting our offense ready this week. We're going to continue running the spread. It's just something that we'll have to keep working on and hopefully get better each week."

The Tigers extended their lead to 42-0 in the second quarter after a 12-yard touchdown pass from Blackburn to Coleman Miller and a 13-yard run by J. Gardiner.

Central (0-2, 0-1) scored its first touchdown late in the first half when quarterback Sloan Dickerson connected with Dalton Wilson for a 27-yard score.

After a scoreless third quarter, freshman running back Will Minor scored on a 19-yard touchdown run to give the Tigers a 48-7 lead.

The Wildcats scored the final two touchdowns of the game. Taylor Hayes scored on a 1-yard run, and Darian Howell added a 7-yard run.

Despite the lopsided victory, Mothershed said he believes Central has a bright future under first year head coach Brent Palmer.

"Coach Palmer is going to do great," he said.

"Central is a young and inexperienced team, but coach Palmer is a class act. They're going to do well under him."

Central hosts Ardmore this week, and Deshler travels to Lawrence County.