The Drew Central Pirates opened the 2024 season at Mike Pennington Stadium on Friday night, August 30, in rainy conditions .
The PIrates would have to start the contest without one of their key players who was serving disciplinary action stemming from being ejected during last week's AAA Benefit Game against Hamburg.
The Pirates would receive the opening kickoff after the Bison won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half.
Drew central could not move the ball on their opening drive and was forced to punt the ball away.
The punt from Hunter Griffin would be short, giving the Bison excellent field position in Drew Central territory.
The Bison’s drive would come to an abrupt end with 10:11 showing on the clock after fumbling the football with Drew Central’s Zae Bullard giving the Pirates possession on their own 30 yard line.
With the rain still coming down, the Pirates would start their second possession of the contest and would move the ball into Bison territory down to the Carlisle 38 yard line.
From the 38, Pirate Quarterback Tre’Bennett Fuller connected with Wide Receiver Jeremiah Bodiford on the 38-yard touchdown pass.
The Pirates would send Griffin out for the extra point but would attempt to pass the ball for the two-point conversion with Griffin’s pass being intercepted by Carlisle’s Bently Parker ending the conversion with Drew Central leading 6-0.
Drew Central would get their second turnover of the contest on Carlisle’s next drive after Ty Tanksley’s pass was intercepted by Fuller with 4:22 remaining in the first quarter.
Drew Central would be forced to punt on the possession with Carlisle’s next possession extending into the second quarter with the Bison turning the ball over on downs with 9:56 on the clock.
After being forced to punt on their next possession, the Bison would take over and move into Pirate territory and with 2:32 remaining in the half, Lawson Petrus would break free on a 23-yard touchdown run.
Jimmy Cham added the extra point to give the Bison a 7-6 lead heading into halftime.
Things would go downhill for the Pirates in the second half
Carlisle would receive the second half kickoff and return the ball into Pirate territory but a penalty the Bison would be forced to start their drive at their own 25.
The Bison would advance the ball to the Pirate 29 where Tanksley would connect with Gavin Davis for the score.
Cham added the extra point to extend the lead to 14-6.
After forcing Drew Central to punt, Carlisle’s Kaidon Clingmon would have a 36-yard return to give the Bison possession at the Pirate two.
The Pirate defense would hold the Bison to a field goal to make the score 17-6.
Drew Central would turn the ball over on downs on their next possession at the Pirate 36.
Carlisle passed the ball downfield on three plays, with the touchdown coming on a one-yard run by Petrus.
Cham added the extra point to extend the lead to 24-6 with 1:21 remaining in the third quarter,
Drew Central’s next drive would extend into the fourth quarter with Drew Central pushing the ball downfield to the Carlisle four but penalties would push the Pirates back to the Carlisle 32 with the Pirates turning the ball over on downs.
Carlisle would score two more touchdowns in the contest but for Drew Central, the Pirates would receive a blow for their next contest with Quarterback Tre’Bennett Fuller being ejected from the contest after an altercation on the opposing team's sideline that resulted in a personal foul penalty.
Since the ejection came in the fourth quarter, Fuller will be ineligible to play on Friday against England on the road.
As for the remainder of the contest against Carlisle, the Bison would increase the score to 31-6 with 4:53 remaining in the contest and would get their final score on an interception return to set up the final score of 38-6.
Drew Central will travel to England on Friday, September 6, for a 7 pm kickoff.
The Junior Pirates will kickoff their Junior High season on Thursday, September 5, at Mike Pennington Stadium with a 6 pm kickoff. There will not be a 7th Grade contest.
