Football: Center Moriches’ playmakers cause Monarchs trouble

RED DEVILS 24, MONARCHS 6

Call them playmakers. That is what the Center Moriches High School football team has. Tyrell Thomas, Tarik Rountree, Zachary Brady. They all have the ability to make a big gain on any play.

That big-play ability was shown Friday night when the Red Devils, coming off a 1-7 season, brought their record to 2-0 in Suffolk County Division IV with a 24-6 defeat of visiting Bishop McGann-Mercy.

McGann-Mercy’s rushing defense did well, holding Center Moriches to 91 yards on the ground. It was in the air, though, where Center Moriches did most of its damage.

Thomas threw for three touchdowns, passing for 199 yards. Rountree was on the receiving end of 110 yards worth of those passes, two for touchdowns, giving him four for the young season. Brady caught the other touchdown pass.

Center Moriches was ahead, 24-0, by the time McGann-Mercy scored its first points of the season. Reggie Archer powered his way across the goal line from three yards out 1 minute 21 seconds into the fourth quarter. Archer ran for 116 yards on 26 carries.

K. J. Santacroce twice stopped Center Moriches drives by picking off passes.