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Burlington Central routs Marengo
Updated: October 22, 2011 12:13AM
Burlington Central has a lot to feel good about heading into the playoffs after wrapping up the regular season with a 55-3 win at Marengo in Big Northern East action on Friday night. The defense was outstanding again, allowing just 122 yards and forcing four turnovers. Quarterback Ryan Ritchie tacked on two more touchdown tosses to give him 17 for the season with only three interceptions. And finishing with a 7-2 record (4-1 in the BNC) gives the Rockets a good chance at hosting a playoff game in the first round.
However, at the top of the feel-good list has to be the continuing emergence of Joel Bouagnon as a dominating force in the backfield. The junior tailback rushed for 256 yards on 15 carries and scored three touchdowns. He’s rushed for over 700 yards in the last four games.
At 6-1 and 205 pounds Bouagnon has always been a load for opposing teams to handle, but now in recent weeks he seems to be adding more and more speed to his repertoire, making for a dangerous combination. On Friday, Bouagnon broke away for touchdown runs of 84, 69 and 31 yards. He added a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown on defense.
“I’m always working on becoming a more explosive running back,” said Bouagnon. “I’ve been going to camps to work on my speed and I think it’s helped a lot. I feel like I’m hitting the holes quicker and I’m able to break away now when I get in the open field. Of course, it helps tremendously when you have a great offensive line in front of you. They opened some ridiculous holes tonight.”
On the Rockets second possession of the game Bouagnon accounted for all 61 yards on a three play drive that ended with a 31-yard touchdown run for the Rockets’ first score. On his second touchdown run late in the first half Bouagnon bounced to the outside off tackle, broke a couple tackles and sprinted 89 yards for the score. He was hardly touched when he scored his third touchdown on a 69-yard run on the Rockets first play of their second possession in the second half.
“He has everything it takes to be a great running back,” said Central coach Rich Crabel. “The one thing I always get on him about is his top end speed. I always want to see him be a little faster once he breaks into the secondary. He did that tonight. He stepped it up a notch and really turned on the speed.”
Ritchie added a 22-yard touchdown pass to Zach Ranney and also scored on a 41-yard run off a quarterback draw to give the Rockets a 28-3 lead at the break. Ritchie threw his second touchdown pass, a 53-yard strike to Chandler Crary on the first play from scrimmage in the second half.
Jake Daffron had the Rockets’ other score on a 5-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter that gave Central a 49-3 lead to force a running clock.
The Rockets now prepare to play in the Class 5A playoffs. They have only played one 5A team all season and that was Sycamore, which they lost to in overtime.
“I’m really pleased with the way we finished the season strong,” said Crabel. “We are happy with what we have been able to accomplish so far, but we want to do more. We know we are going to have to take our game to even a higher level because we are stepping up in the 5A division and there’s nowhere to hide. We are going to have face some tough teams and we’ll need to be ready.”
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