EXTRA POINT Taylor powers Independence victory

Demonte Taylor rumbled for 275 yards and scored a on 4-yard run with under three minutes remaining, and Independence overcame a 17-point deficit to beat host St. Charles 24-23 on Friday night in a nonleague game.

Taylor, who averaged 8.6 yards a carry on 32 touches, also scored in the third quarter on a 3-yard run to put the 76ers (3-0) on the board after trailing 17-0 at halftime. He also ran for a pair of two-point conversions, including one after a Daleron McCarrell 3-yard TD reception to give the 76ers an 18-17 lead late in the third quarter.

Taylor Bryant had 125 yards rushing and gave the Cardinals (0-3) a 23-18 lead with seven minutes left in the game on an 85-yard TD run. Roland Rowe added 97 yards and a first-quarter score.

Clayton Anderson gave St. Charles a 3-0 lead early in the game with a 32-yard field goal, but missed from 31 yards out as time expired.

Centennial (1-2) scored 86 points, all in the first half, in a runaway victory over visiting Fairfield Christian (0-3). Juchene Davis finished with 181 yards rushing on nine carries and four touchdowns. Marquise Scott had 132 yards on five carries with two touchdowns and added a 23-yard score on an interception. Jaylen Gilbert completed seven of 12 passes for 114 yards and four touchdowns and, three to Craig Burt, who had four receptions and 61 yards.

Allen Smith ran for three first-quarter touchdowns, and Westerville Central (2-1) opened up a 35-6 lead on the way to a blowout win over visiting Eastmoor Academy (1-2). Raymell Byrd rushed for 127 yards and four touchdowns, and host Whitehall (1-2) cruised to a nonleague win over Whetstone (0-3). Rasheed Muhammad added 121 yards rushing and a score for the Rams.

Cody Little threw a pair of touchdown passes, and Day-myrin Jones had 101 yards rushing with a score to pace host Franklin Heights (1-2) over Briggs (2-1).

JaQuan Watson hauled in a 65-yard touchdown pass from Parker Parsons with 1:05 remaining and host Linden (1-2) edged South (2-1). Justin Vance scored the game’s lone touchdown, a 2-yard run in the third quarter, to lift Walnut Ridge (3-0) over visiting Beechcroft (0-3).

Michael White ran for three touchdowns in leading West (2-1) over host East (0-3). The Cowboys defense limited East to 114 yards.