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Burlington Central holds on for first victory of the season

The Burlington Central Rockets survived five turnovers to outlast Kishwaukee Valley Conference rival Woodstock 14-10 to earn their first win of the season.

Senior Nick Termini's 4-yard touchdown run with 7:35 left in the second quarter proved to be the crucial edge in a game that resembled Termini's scoring effort. Termini swung far to his right, and then realizing he was nearly out of room, reversed direction, turned on the jets and scored the Rockets' second touchdown of the night.

"I ran out of room and was scanning the field because I knew we needed that touchdown," Termini said. "Nothing was open to the right and nothing was open up the middle, and then I looked to the left and it looked pretty darn open, so I just planted hard on my right and gave it a shot. I got around their end and I was just glad I got it in."

Rockets coach Brian Melvin was glad to have Termini back for his first game of the season.

"It's nice to have Nicky Termini back," Melvin said. "It's definitely an add on to our team. He played outstanding."

Central (1-3, 1-1) took a quick 7-0 lead, scoring on their opening drive of the game on a 5-yard touchdown run by Johnny DiCostanzo.

Three minutes later, the Rockets had the ball back and drove down to the Blue Streak's 4-yard line facing second and one, but they fumbled out of the end zone on their next play, which gave Woodstock the ball back on their own 20-yard line.

Woodstock (2-2, 1-1) then drove 80 yards to tie the game 7-7, capped off by Michael Purkey's 20-yard scoring strike to David Shinherr.

But just as they did the entire game, the Rockets bounced back and Termini scored on the Rockets' next possession to put them back on top 14-7.

The Rockets drove down to the Blue Streak's 13-yard line with less than two minutes to play in the first half, but another fumble ended the scoring drive and gave the ball back to the Blue Streaks. Woodstock drove down the field and kicked a 32-yard field goal as time ran out in the half.

The two teams did not allow the other to score in the second half; however, that could have easily changed if not for a leaping interception by Layn Reynolds in the end zone with less than four minutes to play in the game.

On first down at the Central 23-yard line, Woodstock quarterback Michael Purkey thought he had his man open in the end zone, but Reynolds closed in and out-jumped the Blue Streak's receiver to grab his second interception of the night.

"We saw on film that they liked to throw the ball," Reynolds said. "I made the right reads and was in the right place at the right time to make the play. We needed it and it really pumped us up."

Melvin indicated that offensively they are slightly inexperienced, but the defense is firing on all cylinders.

"We're so young on the offensive side of the ball and it shows sometimes," Melvin said. "Defensively we did a phenomenal job. We have them flying around right now and that's what you want to see on Friday night. We have a slogan right now ... I've got your six, like in the military, which is I've got your back, so we're just taking it one game at a time."

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