Keller Central handles Weatherford in Chargers’ district opener

With a bye last week, Keller Central looked like the more rested team on Thursday night in its district opener against Weatherford.

Central running backs Zion Purvis and D’antaven Blackshear scored two touchdowns apiece and the Chargers defeated Weatherford 41-14 in a District 3-6A game at Keller ISD Athletic Complex.

The Chargers got off to a quick start.

Noah Moreno recorded the first of his two forced turnovers after he stripped a Weatherford receiver, and on the next play, Blackshear scored on a 49-yard touchdown run.

Central (2-3, 1-0 3-6A) added another touchdown when Purvis scored from the 5 with 4:55 left in the first quarter.

Weatherford (1-5, 0-2), which gained just 52 yards in the opening quarter, tried to fight back as Dylan Smith had an interception late in the first.

The Kangaroos gave it back when Moreno picked off a Weatherford pass, but Weatherford got the ball back when Purvis, who nearly scored, had the ball poked away near the goal line. The ball went out of the end zone for a touchback.

Weatherford quarterback Lane Gilley then hit London Williams for 40 yards and Riley Street for 34 before finding Devin James on a screen and a 5-yard touchdown that cut Central’s lead to 14-7 with 7:50 left in the second quarter.

Central responded with a 33-yard touchdown from Reese Robertson to D.J. Grahamfor a 21-7 lead, 6:37 until halftime.

Robertson hit Blackshear for a 14-yard touchdown pass and 28-7 lead to open the third, and Purvis, who was dfwVarsity’s Week 4 offensive Player of the Week, later scored on a 61-yard run for a 38-14 lead.

Purvis finished with 20 carries for 188 yards and two touchdowns. Graham had four catches for 139 yards and one touchdown.

Gilley threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns, his second a 16-yard pass to Dominic Davi in the third quarter.

This story was originally published September 29, 2016 at 10:35 PM with the headline "Keller Central handles Weatherford in Chargers’ district opener."