Friday night’s matchup between the Pearl River Central Blue Devils ended in a hard loss to East Central’s Hornets 30 to 17.

East Central scored early in the night, taking possession of the ball after a nine play drive by the Blue Devils ended in a failed attempt at a field goal from the Hornets’ 24 yard line.

On the ensuring possession, the Hornets used the very next play to score when Will Young completed a pass to Sam Walls, who carried it the rest of the way for a touchdown with eight minutes left to play in the first quarter. The failed point after attempt left the score at 6-0.

East Central would double down on its lead after regaining possession of the ball. On fourth and goal at the two yard line, Young toted the ball into the endzone in a quarterback keeper with a bit more than a minute left in the first quarter. The successful two point conversion by Dylan Grinsteinner put the score at 14-0.

The Blue Devils put points on the board in the team’s subsequent possession. Capitalizing on a seven play drive for more than 70 yards capped off by a touchdown run from Detrich Spikes from the five yard line. Sam Lambert’s successful PAT attempt brought the score to 14-7 with 10:12 left to play in the first half.

East Central widened its lead at the end of a 13 play drive that started from the team’s own 21 yard line. Teshun Mcgee brought the ball the final 20 yards to pay dirt with 5:23 left in the first quarter and Grinsteinner’s two point conversion put the score at 22-7 with 5:23 left before halftime.

PRC answered right back on the ensuing possession with a 10 play drive that started from East Central’s 38 yard line. As Kevin Wilcox attempted to carry the ball the final leg of its journey to the end zone, the ball was fumbled, but recovered by John Linden, who brought it the final few yards for a Blue Devils touchdown. Lambert’s PAT attempt went through the uprights, putting the score at 22-14.

Pearl River Central would score again, this time in the third quarter when a drive from the East Central 25 yard line put the team in striking distance of a field goal. Lambert’s attempt at three points was good, bringing the score to 22-17.

The final scoring play of the game came in the fourth quarter with 9:11 left to play when Young kept the ball for a two yard run into pay dirt. Mcgee’s two point conversion brought the final score to 30-17.

Head Coach Jacob Owen attributed Friday’s loss to a lack of focus and false starts.

“We just made too many mistakes to win. There are no off weeks in this district. Every team you play is really good. You got to bring your a game every week,” Owen said.

The Devils have one more game in the regular season when the team travels to Gautier next week.