AURORA | It took a little while for the Aurora Central football team to get some sustained momentum in Friday’s matchup with rival Hinkley, but once the Trojans got started, there was no stopping them.
A week after scoring just one touchdown in a one-score loss to Falcon, Aurora Central found the end zone eight times at Aurora Public Schools Stadium on their way to a 55-0 victory over the Thunderbirds that gave Chris Kelly his first win as head coach of his alma mater.
Senior Conyeh Lucas and juniors Cai’Reis Curby and Simeon Veasley scored two touchdowns apiece on offense and Curby added a defense score with a short fumble return to help Aurora Central rack up its highest point total in a single game in at least the last 15 seasons. The Trojans evened their record at 1-1 on the season.
Two of Aurora Central’s scores were set up by its defense as junior Jacob Ingraham recorded a fumble recovery and interception, which both led to touchdowns. Sophomore Christopher Perkins also had an interception on the final play of regulation.
Aurora Central needed just three plays to cover 54 yards after receiving the opening kickoff to take the lead on a 10-yard run by Veasley, who scored again after two lengthy Curby touchdowns — one that covered 50 yards and another that went 37 — in the final minute of the opening half as the Trojans led 25-0 at the break.
Lucas scored twice and senior Trevon Simmons-Adams also rushed for a touchdown in the second half for Aurora Central.
Hinkley (0-2) picked up 95 of its 120 yards of total offense on the ground, with senior Keenan Starks picking up 37 yards on eight carries.
Defensively, Allen Hernandez and Jack Tiernan recovered fumbles for coach T.C. Newland’s Thunderbirds.
Aurora Central plays host to Wheat Ridge (0-2) at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at APS Stadium, while Hinkley visits 0-3 Monarch at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10.
Courtney Oakes is Sentinel Colorado Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
AURORA CENTRAL 55, HINKLEY 0
Score by quarters:
Hinkley 0 0 0 0 — 0
Aur. Central 7 18 22 8 — 55
SCORING
First quarter
Aurora Central — Simeon Veasley 10 yard run (Nicholas Portillo kick), 10:46
Second quarter
Aurora Central — Cai’Reis Curby 50 yard run (kick failed), 7:45
Aurora Central — Curby 37 yard run (kick failed), 4:21
Aurora Central — Veasley 1 yard run (kick failed), 0:16
Third quarter
Aurora Central — Curby 5 yard fumble return (pass failed), 10:18
Aurora Central — Conyeh Lucas 28 yard run (BJ Weatherford pass from Portillo), 9:14
Aurora Central — Trevon Simmons 3 yard run (Dushawn Smith run), 5:15
Fourth quarter
Aurora Central — Lucas 34 yard run (JayJay Berry run), 3:40
RUSHING
Aurora Central: Cai’Reis Curby 8-178, Conyeh Lucas 5-93, Simeon Veasley 9-85, Trevon Simmons 6-33, JayJay Berry 3-28, Dushawn Smith 1-22, William Briscoe 2-20, Nicholas Portillo 3-5, Jeremiah Briscoe 2-(minus 2)
Hinkley: Keenan Starks 8-37, Xander Smith 1-25, Wondame Davis Jr. 8-19, Brandon Russell 6-9, Allen Hernandez 4-0, Tatum Starks 1-(minus 4)
PASSING
Aurora Central: Portillo 2-3, 47 yards
Hinkley: Davis Jr. 3-7, 25 yards, 2 interceptions
RECEIVING
Aurora Central: Marcus Howard 2-47
Hinkley: Dayvon Vaughns 1-18, Smith 1-6, Frank Taufa 1-1