Central, BTW advance to All-City semifinals

BY JOHN D. FERGUSON World Correspondent
Friday, August 24, 2012
8/24/12 at 5:45 AM

Booker T. Washington's double edge offensive sword of running back Hollis Birmingham and quarterback Bennett White carved up McLain 28-0 during the 70th All-City Preview at LaFortune Stadium Thursday night.

In the night's most evenly matched game, Central used Anthony Barre's second-quarter field goal to beat Hale 10-7.

Central will face Booker T. Washington in the 7:15 p.m. Friday semifinal set for LaFortune Stadium. The 6 p.m. semifinal will feature Webster against East Central, who beat Memorial, 20-18. The championship will be played at 8:30 p.m. between the two winners.

Birmingham did most of the running and White finished off two drives with touchdown passes. Birmingham finished 128 yards rushing on nine carries. The burly 5-foot-10, 220-pound senior also had a 2-yard TD.

When told of his stellar half of work, Birmingham smiled.

"I was trying to get 200 (yards)," Birmingham said.

Birmingham had every right to celebrate. His quarterback teammate tossed two TD passes of 8 and 10 yards.

Cameron Durant's 8-yard TD reception came on the first Hornet drive on a fade route. Tank Brantley caught the 10-yard score on another perfect throw.

Defensive back Carsie Jones caught a tipped McLain pass and scored from 43 yards with 1:05 left in the game.

Booker T. Washington looked sharp and Birmingham had an idea why.

"The team played great," Birmingham said. "We practiced hard for this and the intensity was high. It finally paid off for us."

Central 10, Hale 7: The Braves moved the ball consistently, but could only manage a 33-yard TD scamper by quarterback DeAngelo Brewer. Brewer also delivered a hard tackle when on defense to thwart a Hale runner in the first quarter.

Barre kicked the extra point and added the eventual game-winner when the Braves stalled at the Ranger 3-yard line with just over a minute left.

Hale's offense then suddenly came to life. A 38-yard circus catch by Cedric Morgan put the Rangers in scoring position at the Braves' 38-yard line.

Morgan finished off the last 38 yards when quarterback Christian Frazier tossed a perfect throw to the end zone. Morgan ran to it in heavy traffic and caught it as he crossed the goal line.

B.T. WASHINGTON 28, McLAIN 0

McLain	0	0	-	0
B.T. Washington	14	14	-	28

BTW: Durant 8 pass from White (Beasley kick)

BTW: Brantley 10 pass from White (Beasley kick)

BTW: Birmingham 2 run (Beasley kick)

BTW: Jones 43 interception return (Beasley kick)

CENTRAL 10, HALE 7

Hale	0	7	-	7
Central	7	3	-	10

C: Brewer 33 run (Barre kick)

C: FG, Barre 20

H: Morgan 38 pass from Frazier (Dean kick)

Original Print Headline: Central holds off Hale, BTW romps