AMITY, Ark. — Harmony Grove Haskell challenged Centerpoint to pass the ball Friday night at Diamond Bank Stadium, and junior quarterback Josh Lawson was happy to oblige.
Lawson passed for more than 200 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Knights past Haskell, 34-14. Centerpoint improves to 2-1 on the season, and will be off next week to prepare for its conference opener at home against Fouke.
“That was one of our better nights passing,” said winning coach Cary Rogers. “Our quarterback (Lawson) played well. He made good reads, and got the ball out on time. C.J. Fox did an outstanding job catching and running the ball. The offensive line was outstanding, and the defense played well.
“Haskell is a hard-nosed team, and is well coached. It was a hard fought game, and very physical. Tonight, our passing game was the difference.”
Lawson, Fox a dangerous combination
The Knights scored on their first possession of the game. C.J. Fox accounted for most of the yards with three catches for 68 yards, including the final 23. Fox finished with four receptions for 129 yards and two touchdowns.
After the Cardinals tied the game on a 6-yard run by their quarterback, it only took Centerpoint 89 seconds to answer. Junior Hayden Rogers (coach’s son) hauled in a 15-yard scoring strike from Lawson. Rogers also kicked the PAT with 20 seconds left in the first quarter.
The two teams exchanged punts over the next four possessions. The Knights scored again with 1:44 left in the first half on a 1-yard run by Houston Way.
Owens leads defense with 2 interceptions
Junior Kaden Owens came up with the first of two interceptions at his own 23 with eight seconds left in the half.
Neither team moved the ball early in the second half. Centerpoint finally cashed in on a 48-yard touchdown pass from Lawson to junior Carlos Ponce with 1:44 left in the third period. A low snap prevented Rogers from kicking the PAT.
Haskell would score its final touchdown early in the fourth quarter. The Cardinals had an opportunity to make it a one-score game when Owens made his second interception at midfield with 7:09 left.
A major penalty moved the ball back to the Knights’ 39. On the next play Lawson found Fox all alone at the Redbirds’ 40. He sprinted in from there to complete a 61-yard score.
Linemen Kaden Horn and Garrett Alexander played well on both sides. Lawson and Way were the Knights’ leading rushers.