Central runs over Dillon in battle of Class A's best

Posted: Sep 15, 2012 10:17 PM by Casey Conlon - Q2 Sports

BILLINGS - Jacob Stanton ran for two touchdowns, and threw for one more, as the Central Rams staked their claim to the No. 1 spot in the Class A rankings Saturday night with a 38-17 win over previous No. 1 Dillon.

The Beavers, who beat the Rams in the State A title game last November, got on the scoreboard first as Cooper Lamey went 61 yards to the house on Dillon's 2nd offensive play. Dillon then kicked a field goal on their next possession to take a 10-0 lead before Central responded.

Torry Huppert scored the Rams' first touchdown on a 7-yard run late in the first quarter. Stanton then connected with Ian Byorth in the 2nd, as Byorth made a juggling catch on his back in the left corner of the endzone. The touchdown gave the Rams a lead they would never give up.

Stanton made it 21-10 late in the first half when he dove for the front right pylon and scored on his first touchdown run of the game. That should have been the halftime score, but with 15 seconds to play, Sean Getchell intercepted M.J. Simkins' pass, and Rams kicker Luke Daly nailed a 38-yard field goal to give Central a 24-10 lead at the break.

Dillon trimmed the lead to 24-17 when Simkins found Chance Kleusner on a 7-yard TD pass when defender George Smith fell after injuring his knee trying to turn on the play. But the Rams answered on their ensuing possession, with Connor Cerkovnik scoring on an 8-yard TD run to give Central a 31-17 advantage.

Stanton concluded the scoring with his second touchdown run moments into the 4th quarter.

The win moves Central to 4-0 on the season, while the loss drops Dillon to 1-1.