Andover drops rival Central to 0-4

It took almost three quarters for Andover to finally get a significant stranglehold on its rivalry game against Andover Central on Friday.

Once the Trojans did, their free-wheeling style gave them and their supporters a satisfying finish.

Robert Bundy scored on a 1-yard run on the opening play of the fourth quarter, and Chase Oberg added a touchdown pass to Evan Bell with 4:45 remaining to give Andover a 23-6 victory. The Trojans improved to 3-1 under first-year coach Tony Crough with their seventh victory in the last 10 games against Central.

Bundy’s second touchdown of the game capped a pivotal 12-play, 66-yard drive that put Andover in control at 16-6. The march came after Central threatened to take the lead on a long pass from freshman reserve Reagan Jones to Gavin Cusick, but Cusick couldn’t reel in the deep post throw.

Andover countered with a 31-yard scramble by Oberg, a 10-yard run by Bundy on a broken play and two completions from Oberg to Bell.

“That drive was really big for us,” said Bell, who had 10 receptions for 136 yards. “The plays were there for us. We were just making mistakes. We finally got a hold of ourselves and that’s what we needed.”

Andover dominated the game statistically, outgaining Central 378-95. But the Jaguars, who fell to 0-4 for the first time in the program’s 15-year history, stayed close for three quarters with a stingy defensive effort.

“I thought we played pretty well defensively,” Central coach Tom Audley said. “We just couldn’t get anything going, especially with the run. They were flying all 11 guys at us and we couldn’t make anything happen.”

Playing its second game without senior quarterback Cole Taylor, who underwent surgery Tuesday after tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament against Buhler, Central was held to minus-20 rushing yards on 24 attempts. Junior Jack Steiner completed 12 of 19 passes for 115 yards, but was intercepted in the fourth quarter by Brent Alfaro and Kale Rishel.

Andover had just 83 rushing yards in the first half, but 63 came on one play. Three plays after Bundy had a 40-yard run negated by a penalty, he outraced defenders on a zone read handoff on the opening quarter’s final offensive play.

The Trojans stretched their lead to 9-0 on a safety early in the second quarter. After Oberg pinned Central back at its own 1 with a 49-yard punt, the Jaguars had a bad handoff exchange between quarterback Jack Steiner and running back Dante Rodd. Rodd scooped up the football in the end zone, but was quickly tackled.

Andover missed an opportunity to increase its lead on the ensuing possession. The Trojans marched to Central’s 21, but Oberg overthrew a receiver and Rodd intercepted for the second turnover of the half.

Central was limited to minus-18 rushing yards in the first half, but took advantage of Andover’s antsy defensive front to move the ball. Two offsides penalties moved the ball into Andover territory. Then Steiner connected with senior receiver Isaac Anthemides on a perfectly thrown 41-yard touchdown pass to cut Andover’s lead to 9-6 with 1:52 remaining in the first half.

Andover had seven penalties for 55 yards in the first half.

This story was originally published September 23, 2016 at 10:11 PM with the headline "Andover drops rival Central to 0-4."