Central prevails over Washburn on the gridiron

St. Paul Central’s football team made a serious statement last week during its 47-25 nonconference football victory over perennial Minneapolis City Conference power Washburn.

Before a surprisingly small but enthusiastic crowd at James S. Griffin Stadium (Central’s home field), the defending conference champion Minutemen dominated the Millers, last year’s Minneapolis champs, in every phase of the game.

Washburn came in with the state’s top recruit in running back JEFF JONES. Jones came into the game with 16 touchdowns in three victories but was held to 17 yards. His 22-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter gave fans a glimpse of the athletic ability that has colleges lining up.

This, however, was St. Paul Central’s day.

Central took a 21-0 lead after running backs GARRETT GARDENER and JAKOBI JACKSON scored and quarterback FELIX TAYLOR JR. connected with RAYEON WILLIAMS from 30-yards out.

Jones’ touchdown made it 21-7 but that was as close as Washburn got.

Gardner hit pay dirt three more times in consecutive fashion, including one in which the junior emerged from a pile of Millers after powering his way into the endzone from about 10 yards out.

Washburn scored the rest of its points in the third quarter.

Washburn coach GIOVAN JENKINS took the victory in stride as he was about to board the ride to Minneapolis.

“You have to give respect where respect is due,” he said. “They [Central] have a very good team.”

Cornell’s talented teammate leads 

Cretin-Derham Hall

JASHON CORNELL, as many know by now, is the top-ranked junior in the country, but the 6-3, 245-pound defensive end is surrounded by some talented teammates. One of those teammates emerged in the Raiders’ 20-7 victory

over Moundsview. Running back BRIAN LANKFORD-JOHNSON scored three touchdowns and rushed for 208 yards. He is just a sophomore.

Bowdry turning heads on the field

PAYTON BOWDRY, a running back for Minneapolis South, made some noise as a freshman in basketball last year. A year later the sophomore is turning heads on the football field. Last Friday he rushed for 176 yards and scored twice in leading the Tigers to a 25-6 victory over Minneapolis Edison.

Dynamic duo leads North

TYLER JOHNSON and MALIK MATTHEWS led Minneapolis North to a wild 58-36 victory over rival Henry. Matthews caught three of Johnson’s four touchdown passes. He finished with 10 receptions for 148 yards. Johnson passed for 249 yards.

Former Breck teammates compete 

Former Breck teammates JOHN BAKER and CHARLES JONES played against each other in an MIAC football game last Saturday evening. Baker, who starred at running back as a prep player, was in town to lead Carleton College in matchup against Hamline University, where Jones leads the defense as a lineman.

Baker led the team in rushing as Carleton won 20-17 in OT. Jones tackled Baker at least three times during the game and also recovered a fumble from another Carleton player during the first quarter.

Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mmcdonald@spokesman-recorder.com.