By J.R. Tidwell

The Tuscaloosa News

TUSCALOOSA – The Greenville Tigers benefitted from an impressive ground game to beat the Central Falcons 33-9 on Friday night.

Spearheading the rushing attack for the Tigers was junior quarterback Kenterrion Riley, who had 21 carries for 201 yards and four touchdowns. Riley scored on runs of  34, 61, 14 and 5 yards.

“We came together tonight,” Greenville head coach Earnest Hill said. “They have a good quarterback and a decent defense, but we were able to establish the run game.”

Central put the first points of the game on the board with 5:50 remaining in the first quarter on a 34-yard touchdown reception by sophomore receiver Tyrell Hill from sophomore quarterback Vincent Davis.

Sophomore receiver Harper Vinson was set to hold a field goal attempt for the Tigers on fourth-and-three with 1:25 remaining in the first. Vinson picked up the ball on a fake and ran in a touchdown from 7 yards out to put Greenville on the board. The Tigers missed the extra-point kick, however, allowing the Falcons to keep the lead.

The Tigers recovered an onside attempt on the ensuing kickoff, allowing them to take the lead three plays later on the 34-yard touchdown run by Riley.  Greenville never relinquished this lead, scoring three more touchdowns on rushes by Riley.

“We went into halftime (down 19-7) with our heads up,” Central head coach Dennis Conner said. “We just didn’t finish. We didn’t work hard enough to climb the wall, so we have to work on finishing games.”

Davis was 10-of-21 passing for 100 yards with one touchdown. Marshawn Leatherwood led the ground game for Central, carrying the ball 14 times for 45 yards.

The Central Falcons (0-2) will travel to Demopolis next Friday. Greenville (1-1) will play Paul W. Bryant at home next Friday.