TULSA — Deandre Murray accelerated as he hit the corner, using a burst to outrun the Tulsa (Okla.) Central defense down the sideline for a 66-yard touchdown run on Springdale’s first play.
The Bulldogs senior running back was just getting started.
Murray ran for 213 yards and four touchdowns to lead Springdale to a 41-6 win over Central at S.E. Williams Stadium.
Murray topped the 200-yard mark for the second straight week for Springdale (2-0). He also had touchdown runs of 21, 47 and 1, but the 66-yarder might have been the offense’s most impressive play of the night.
“I think it set the tone for the night,” Springdale coach Shane Patrick said. “We just crushed the side over there. Our offensive line and receivers did a great job blocking. We were able to get him out. And then there’s not many people that are going to run with him when he gets into the open field.”
Springdale led 28-0 at halftime and cruised to the win.
The Bulldogs defense held Central to just 199 yards of total offense and didn’t allow a touchdown. Braves quarterback and Tulsa commit D’Angelo Brewer finished with 90 rushing yards on 14 carries, but was mostly bottled up aside from a few runs.
“That’s going to help us down the road against other athletic quarterbacks we’re going to see,” Patrick said. “But it was a dang difficult deal. Because you’re talking about a top-notch Division I athlete.”
Brewer battled cramps during the second half, struggling as he had to play offense, defense and special teams for the short-handed Braves.
“We’re really hurting right now from a depth standpoint,” first-year Central coach Don Gibson said. “We’re struggling from an academic issue and an injury issue right now. We’re without probably about 20 kids. It’s one of those situations where it’s tough, but you have to keep going.”
EXTRA POINTS
Central scored its only touchdown when Kejuan Jones intercepted Springdale quarterback Fuller Chandler’s pass after it deflected off a receiver’s hands and returned it 20 yards for a third-quarter score. Springdale still led 35-6 after the score.
Chandler scored on a 57-yard touchdown run two plays after the interception. He finished with 95 rushing yards on four carries and completed 6 of 11 passes for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Springdale senior linebacker Christian Tejada recorded his first career interception when he picked off Brewer on a deflected pass in the second quarter.
UP NEXT: Springdale will wrap up nonconference play with against another Oklahoma foe when it hosts Bixby in its home opener. The Bulldogs will try to avenge a 22-7 loss to the Spartans from last year.
HOW THEY SCORED
SPRINDALE HIGH^41
TULSA CENTRAL^6
Springdale^14^14^13^0^—^41
Tulsa Central^0^0^6^0^—^6
First Quarter
Springdale — Murray 66 run (Kennedy kick), 11:35
Springdale — Chandler 7 pass to Patton (Kennedy kick), 2:13
Second Quarter
Springdale — Murray 21 run (Kennedy kick), 10:58
Springdale — Murray 47 run (Kennedy kick), 3:03
Third Quarter
Springdale — Murray 1 run (Kennedy kick), 7:16
Central — Jones 20 INT return (kick blocked), 2:05
Springdale — Chandler 57 run (kick failed), 1:14