JOHNSTOWN — A deft combination of passing and running propelled the Centerburg football team to a 29-0 shutout victory over Northridge on Friday night.
The Trojans (4-4, 2-3) gained 300 total yards on the night, with an almost even distribution of passing yards (157) and rushing yards (143). QB Tyler Stoyle averaged more than 10 yards per attempt, completing 8-of-15 passes for two touchdowns. Jeremy Sesma ran 14 times for a team-high 93 yards.
Centerburg held the Vikings (3-5, 1-4) to 129 total yards. Without leading rusher Jacob Burke, Northridge ran 30 times for only 66 yards, and got a 10-of-27, 63-yard, one-interception performance from QB Bryant Garee. The Trojans had three sacks and seven tackles-for-loss.
Less than a minute went by before Centerburg scored its first touchdown. With 11:13 to play in the first quarter and the ball at their own 39, the Trojans called for a pass. Stoyle hit Sesma out of the backfield, and he took the ball the rest of the way for a 61-yard TD and a 7-0 score. Centerburg reached the Northridge red zone later in the quarter, but stalled at the 20. Brett Sockman, however, drilled a 37-yard field goal with 6:27 remaining to increase the lead to 10-0. Both teams played scoreless second quarters to keep the score as it was.
The Trojans took the ball down to the Vikings 9-yard line on their first drive of the second half, and Austin Glasscock ran in for a touchdown and a 16-0 lead with 8:15 to play. Less than two minutes later, Stoyle threw his second touchdown pass, this time to Silas Beals for 17 yards, and the score was now 22-0. Stoyle provided the final touchdown of the game with 11:55 remaining in the game on a 4-yard run.
Sesma had two catches for 70 yards and a TD to lead Centerburg receivers, and Sean Borden had two catches for 18 yards. Chase Hess paced Northridge with 59 yard on 15 carries and four receptions for 31 yards.
Centerburg will play its final two games on the road, starting Friday at 7 p.m. at Fredericktown.
