On Friday evening, Oct. 20, 2023, the Nature Coast Sharks (7-2) dominated the Central Bears (2-6) at Central High Stadium, 50-14. The Sharks currently hold a five-game winning streak.
The Bears started out strong on their first possession, marching 66 yards for a touchdown and extra point to go up 7-0 in the first minutes of the game. Nature
Coast would respond with a 70-yard drive of their own to score on a rushing touchdown by Senior RB/ILB/DL Christian Cromer and a successful two-point conversion, making the score 8-7. The Sharks would not look back for the remainder of the game.
Nature Coast would go on to score 36 unanswered points, with Senior ILB/SS/RB Connor Riggins scoring two touchdowns (one of which was a pick 6), a defensive touchdown by Senior DE/HB Aiden Orta, a touchdown run by Senior QB Jackson Hoyt and another rushing touchdown by Cromer.
Central would eventually score with 4:52 left in the game on another quarterback keeper by Senior QB/TE/MLB Talyn Poole, bringing the score to 44-14.
Riggins would score the final touchdown of the night, closing out the game with a Sharks’ 50-14 win.
Nature Coast Tech will travel to IMG Academy next Friday, Oct. 27 and Central will meet Weeki Wachee HS for a conference game.
![NCT vs Central 10/20/23- Bears' defenders force a fumble. [Credit: Cynthia Leota]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSC_0239.jpg)
![NCT vs Central 10/20/23- Nature Coast's defenders combine to stop a Bears' runner. [Credit: Cynthia Leota]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSC_0252.jpg)
![NCT vs Central 10/20/23- Central Bears defender Jason Coar, 17, recovers a fumble and runs for yards. [Credit: Cynthia Leota]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSC_0243.jpg)
![NCT vs Central 10/20/23- Bears' defender wraps up for a tackle. [Credit: Cynthia Leota]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSC_0235.jpg)
![NCT vs Central 10/20/23- Sharks' QB, 5, Jackson Hoyt, looks for RB Cashis Williams, 24, for the pass. [Credit: Cynthia Leota]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSC_0234.jpg)
![NCT vs Central 10/20/23- Central Bears' defender stops the quarterback keep. [Credit: Cynthia Leota]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSC_0227.jpg)
![NCT vs Central 10/20/23- Sharks' QB, 5, Jackson Hoyt, looks for an open receiver. [Credit: Cynthia Leota]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSC_0225.jpg)
![NCT vs Central 10/20/23- Talyn Poole, 18, Central Bears' QB, looks for an open receiver. [Credit: Cynthia Leota]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSC_0210.jpg)
![NCT vs. Central 10/20/2023- Christian Cromer, 2, RB for The Sharks, runs for yards. [Credit: Cynthia Leota]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSC_0189.jpg)
![NCT vs Central 10/20/23- Nature Coast's QB, 5, Jackson Hoyt, looks for an open receiver. [Credit: Cynthia Leota]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSC_0181.jpg)
(All names and positions listed were taken from rosters submitted to maxpreps.com by respective teams.)
