By Matt Corbett
CATAWISSA -- Nothing like a long touchdown run on your first play of the game to set the tone for the rest of it.
Tyrell Thomas tore off a 58-yard scoring run on Southern Columbia's first play from scrimmage, and the Tigers piled up 428 yards on the ground as they pulled away for a 35-0 shutout of Central Columbia in the annual battle of Columbia County rivals.
Of more importance in the Heartland Athletic Conference Division II matchup, the Tigers (4-4, 3-2 HAC-II) improved their playoff position with just two regular-season games left.
"After the Selinsgrove game (a 35-28 loss last week), we hoped this game would be a momentum-builder," said Southern coach Jim Roth, whose Tigers prevailed on a rainy, windy Senior Night at Tiger Stadium. "The season is still in front of us. We can give ourselves an opportunity for the postseason."
Thomas, a sophomore halfback, had 130 yards on just five carries in the first half, including his longest TD jaunt of the season on Southern's first play. He took a handoff on the right side, broke left just beyond the line of scrimmage, then outran the Blue Jay backfield for a quick 7-0 lead.
"That's the best he's looked all year," Roth said of Thomas. "Just the way he ran ... his execution was real impressive, and our offensive line did a great job. It was a nice team effort all the way around."
Thomas added a one-yard TD in the second quarter and a two-yard score in the third as the Tigers led 28-0 after three periods.
Meanwhile, the Southern defense was in shutdown mode as they limited Central (2-6, 0-4) to a total of five first downs, including just one in the second half as the weather conditions continued to worsen. The Tigers harassed Blue Jay quarterback Matt Faux into three interceptions, including one after Central's best scoring opportunity late in the first quarter.
Southern led 14-0 after two possessions when Jake Townsend hooked up with Billy Shoop on a 46-yard catch-and-run down the right sideline with 7:36 left in the opening period.
