Doyal D'angelo is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism Student assigned to cover Central High School for AZPreps365.com

Central didn’t start the game as well as it might have wanted, but the Bobcats found their groove in the second quarter and cruised past North Canyon, 43-22, on homecoming night Friday at Ray Laing Field. 

Central running back Khameron Athy and quarterback Cam Allen both had big games in the win. 

Allen completed 8 of 15 passes for 238 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Athy carried 10 times for 188 yards and three touchdowns. 

Central coach Chandler Hovik said he wanted the offense to be balanced this week and it showed. 

“Because they know we have one of the top running backs in the state, they love to box with seven or eight guys," Hovik said. "That's fine. We feel like we have enough athletes on the outside with a great quarterback who can give them the ball.” 

After North Canyon took an early 8-7 lead in the first quarter, Central only needed two plays to answer back. Athy used his elusiveness on a 43-yard rush, which led to a 33-yard touchdown pass from Allen to junior wide receiver Breon Ballard with 2:23 left in the first half to make it 14-8. 

Ballard displayed a knack for big plays, as he finished the game with three receptions, 148 yards and two touchdowns. 

“Man, it felt good to have a good game. My blood was pumping and I’m just ready for the ball,” Ballard said. “Today I do feel like I did more with the ball when I got it. I made more plays.” 

On the first play of the next drive, Allen threw a 55-yard bomb to wide receiver Ismail Foz to increase the lead, 21-8, with 1:47 left in the first half.

Central opened the second half with a 40-yard touchdown from Athy, who spun out of a tackle behind the line of scrimmage and outran the North Canyon defenders to put the Bobcats up 28-8. 

North Canyon started to fight back with a 9-yard touchdown run by running back Adrian Montgomery to make it 28-16 with 6:23 remaining in the third quarter. 

North Canyon’s defense stepped up on the next possession and enabled their offense to march down the field again, but after a long drive Central defensive back Maxwell Miles held his ground on a 25-yard shot to the left end zone and intercepted North Canyon quarterback Brown with 9:54 left in the fourth quarter. 

After an Allen interception on the ensuing drive, the Rattlers drove the ball to the 5-yard line behind their running attack, but the Bobcats stood their ground again and forced a turnover on downs with 4:33 remaining in the fourth quarter.

North Canyon was looking for anything to get back in the game late but Central closed it with a 90-yard touchdown pass from Allen to Ballard with 3:22 left in the game.

After both playing huge parts in the win, Allen took time to thank Athy for his leadership with the team.

“Growing up as a man, he’s helping me be a better role model for the team,” Allen said. “He’s like a father figure to me.” 

Central will take on South Mountain at Ray Laing Field on Friday at 7 p.m, while North Canyon has a short turnaround against Westview at North Canyon on Thursday at 7 p.m.