Central’s Peter Mendazona (10) throws to an open teammate at a game against Dallas on Friday, Sept. 30, 2016, at Central High Schoo in Independence. The pass was blocked by Dallas’ Cade Caudill (5).
INDEPENDENCE — Central High School’s football team was already without two of its starters, all-everything Marlon Tuipulotu and Will Cable, due to injuries before Friday’s rivalry game with No. 6-ranked Dallas.
And then the team lost its starting running back, Alvin Berroa, and receiver, Isiah Abraham, in the first series and trailed the Dragons 12-7 at halftime.
But the Panthers were flawless coming out of halftime, made the defensive stops in the fourth quarter and converted tough third and fourth down situations late to knock off undefeated Dallas 21-20.
Central improves to 2-0 in the Mid-Willamette and 3-2 overall with its third-straight win while knocking Dallas to 1-1 in the Mid-Willamette and 4-1 overall.
Central junior quarterback Peter Mendazona was 17 of 23 passing for 196 yards and a touchdown and ran for a four-yard touchdown in the third quarter to give the Panthers back the lead at 14-12.
Third-string running back Andrew Reyna ran for a 10-yard touchdown with 54 seconds left in the third quarter to put Central up 21-12.
Dallas answered back with 8:24 left as Tanner Earhart ran for a one-yard touchdown and a two-point conversion to cut Central’s lead to 21-20.
Earhart rushed for 187 yards on 30 carries and had two tackles for loss, including a sack.
bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler
Central 21, Dallas 20
DAL 6 6 0 8-20
CEN 7 0 14 0-21
-First quarter
CEN: Isiah Abraham 31 pass from Peter Mendazona (Bailey kick) 10:16.
DAL: Jacob Collins 19 run (kick fail) 1:18.
-Second quarter
DAL: Caedmon Blair 1 run (run fail) 2:11.
-Third quarter
CEN: Mendazona 4 run (Bailey kick) 5:23.
CEN: Andrew Reyna 10 run (Bailey kick) :54.
-Fourth quarter
DAL: Tanner Earhart 1 run (Earhart run) 8:44.