Ryan Roddy
Section618.com

CARBONDALE – The Centralia Orphans wrapped up a three-game road trip by opening South 7 Conference play with a 27-21 win at Carbondale Friday night.

The Orphans got the scoring started with an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Carson Green to Cam Newcomb at the 4:06 mark of the first quarter.

Amir Johnson added to Centralia’s lead with a 2-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter to make it 13-0.

Sophomore Mozzy Graham got the Terriers on the board with an 8-yard run to make it 13-7. Graham finished the game with 124 yards on 23 carries.

After a Centralia turnover, Carbondale had a chance to tie or take the lead late in the half, but Orphans’ cornerback Xavier Koch intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown. The extra point put Centralia up 20-7 at the half.

Early in the third, Carbondale junior Mortez Graham scored on a 59-yard run to cut Centralia’s lead to 20-14. The Orphans then put together a long drive capped by Marzeal Marshall’s 1-yard TD run to make it 27-14.

Carbondale made things interesting late with a 36-yard touchdown pass from Brock Bowlby to Dee Cawthron to close within 27-21, but that’s how it would end.

Centralia (3-1, 1-0) will be back home Friday night to take on Althoff. That game can be heard on 95.3 X95 as well as the Section618 App. Carbondale (1-3, 0-1) will travel to Cahokia Friday.