Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
CENTRALIA — For most of the first half, Xavier Koch and the Centralia Orphans controlled their 5A first round home playoff game against Metamora.
Koch was everywhere–from making fourth down stops in the backfield to catching a 40-yard touchdown pass to recovering an onside kick to forcing a fumble in the secondary–the Orphans senior was in the middle of it. He caught 10 passes for 148 yards with a touchdown, and his team was holding a 9-0 lead late in the first half after Michael Organ recovered the fumble Koch forced.
Unfortunately for Centralia, Metamora recovered a fumble on the very next to play to help set up the first of three Stephen Petri touchdowns to make it a 9-7 game at the half.
A promising drive to open the third quarter turned disastrous for Centralia. After having a touchdown called back, the Orphans missed a short field goal, keeping it 9-7.
Petri then scored twice in the fourth with the Redbirds adding a pair of 2-point conversions to complete the rally.
Metamora improves to 7-3 and will host top-seeded Morgan Park in round two, while Centralia finishes 6-4.
