2 hours Ago
CHAMPAIGN — The Champaign Central football team pulled off one of the most improbable comebacks you'll ever see Friday night at Tommy Stewart Field. Unfortunately for the Maroons, however, there was still another half to play. Danville blew a big first-half lead but turned it around in the second half to earn a 44-31 win and keep its playoff hopes alive.
Danville (2-4) led 22-0 with 90 seconds remaining in the first half. Darius Jay rushed for a pair of touchdowns, and Diddy Robinson returned an interception to the end zone to give the Vikings a commanding lead early. Then, Champaign Central (2-4) spent 30 minutes of real time making the most of those final 90 seconds of the first half.
Central's Cale Helfer sacked Jay in the end zone for a safety to get the Maroons on the board, now trailing 22-2 and about to get the ball back. The Maroons capitalized on their first play, as Mark Johnson launched a 40-yard touchdown strike to Daniel Sago to make it 22-8. The clock showed 80 seconds.
On the ensuing kickoff, Danville's Jerry Reed III fumbled, and Central's Preston Carney recovered and returned it to the opposing 23-yard line. Once again, the Maroons found the end zone on their next play, as Johnson connected with Ronald Baker for a 23-yard touchdown. The same duo scored the two-point conversion to make it 22-16.
The clock showed 63 seconds. Danville tried to make one last push down the field, but it couldn't get anything going, turning it over on downs to give the ball back to the Maroons at the 29-yard line. A couple plays later, Johnson and Baker hooked up again for a 20-yard score to tie it at 22.
The clock showed 13 seconds. You'd think that would be all, but there was still time remaining, which was all Central needed. The Vikings fumbled their first snap of the drive, and Central recovered at the 18-yard line.
After a couple unsuccessful heaves to the end zone, Carney kicked a 35-yard field goal to send the Maroons into halftime with a 25-22 lead. Twenty-five unanswered points in 90 seconds. Danville came out of the break more calm and composed and slowed things down.
Jay recorded two more rushing touchdowns to give him four on the night and regain the lead 36-25. Robinson broke loose for a 93-yard touchdown run later to give the Vikings a 44-25 advantage and all but seal the deal. Central, of course, had already proven it could make up that deficit quickly, and the Maroons tried their best.
Johnson passed to Ian Weber for an 11-yard score to get a little closer, but they only had one miraculous comeback in them..
