Taj Cornum makes a cut in the first half against Buena Vista. Cornum picked up two touchdowns in the winning effort.(Courier photo by Stephen Jiron)

LA JARA — On a soggy field, wet from rains the night before, Centauri hosted Buena Vista for an interclass meeting. The Falcons won big sealing things 41-7 over the visiting Demons.

A year removed from their campaign as the State Championship runners-up the Falcons (3-1) are building a respectable season in 2018. As of last Monday the Falcons hold the ninth spot in the CHSAA RPI rankings.

Friday night both teams struggled with ball control and maintaining drives in the early going. Buena Vista started the night with a punt, which Centauri answered with a turnover on downs. After a second Demon punt Centauri fumbled the ball away, which Buena Vista promptly fumbled back.

Having dodged a bullet Centauri started fresh with the ball on their own 21, their first action, to fumble the ball back to Buena Vista. The Demons would drive the ball eight yards before punting it back to Centauri.

On their final possession of the first quarter a yet another Falcon fumble popped out near midfield, this one with benevolent intent. Centauri’s Deontay Martinez scooped the ball about 8 yards down field and sprinted the distance to put Centauri on the board, the PAT making it 7-0.  

The Falcon defense shored up any lapse in ball control forcing two punts to make up for a fumble and a turnover on downs on Centauri’s next two drives. The Falcon offense rewarded the defense with a two and a half minute drive that covered 61 yards. Set up by a pass interference from Buena Vista, Eric Maez connected with Mason Claunch from 30 yards out to put Centauri up 13-0.

Two drives later the Falcons were back to work, Taj Cornum would break a 23 yard run to put the Falcons on the five yard line. Cornum would get the call again an make it 20-0 at the half.

The opening possession of the second half went back to Centauri. After getting backed up with a false start Cornum picked up 21 yards on two rushes. Setting up a completion from Maez to Zachary Martin to the 17. Two plays later it was Claunch in the endzone from seven yards out for his second of the day. A turnover on downs from the Demons allowed for another Cornum touchdown to give Centauri a 34-0 lead. The Falcons were not satisfied and immediately following the score calls for “One more (touchdown), one more” could be heard from the sideline.

Six minutes later it was Claunch getting in once more to trigger a running clock assuring the victory with a minute remaining in the third quarter. Late in the fourth after a Buena Vista touchdown in the final minutes, the Demons committed the seventh fumble and third turnover of the game giving Centauri the ball as the final seconds ticked off the clock. Centauri will host the Center Vikings (3-1-0) Sept. 21 for Homecoming. The game is slated for a 7 p.m. start time.