PORT NECHES — The Tribe rolled through Central on Friday night, turning the Jaguars’ mistakes into a 42-21 rout at the Reservation.

Central, now 2-4 in 22-4A and 4-5 overall, committed 11 penalties for 92 yards and allowed three meaningful turnovers to help PN-G improve to 7-2 overall and 6-0 in District 22-4A. With the win, the Indians clinch a spot in the playoffs, regardless of what happens in next week’s game with the Broncos in Dayton.

“There was a lot riding on this game,” said PN-G head coach Matt Burnett, who extended his career record with the Indians to 90-58. “This is the last regular season game that will be played on this field (the Reservation will undergo remodeling during the off-season). It was important to win this game.

“This win put us in the playoffs, so we took care of what we needed to take care of. We set out to make the playoffs and we’ve done that. That was our goal this season.

“I’m very happy for this group of kids — for this group of seniors. For them to get into the playoffs and for them to get a win on their final game here in this stadium, I know that means a lot to them. It means a lot to a lot of people that we won this game tonight.”

With the score 14-7, the Tribe scored 21 points in the second quarter to move ahead 28-14 at the half.

PN-G used good field position and a 23-yard touchdown run from Kenneth Tezeno, who carried the ball three times for 43 yards for the night, to tie the game up at 14-14 with 5:14 to play in the first half.

The Indians took over on the Jags 30-yard line after PN-G’s defense forced Central to punt from its own 8-yard line.

The Tribe needed just three plays before Tezeno ran in the score.

On Central’s next drive, Derrick Hall fumbled away the ball to PN-G’s Brett Doty who returned the fumble for a 39-yard touchdown, putting the Indians up 21-14.

On their ensuing kickoff, the Indians surprised Central with an on-side kick. The Tribe recovered and then put together a four-play drive that ended with a 5-yard touchdown run from Jake Hemmings.

A third touchdown in a span of only 4:16 gave the Indians a 28-14 lead and plenty of momentum to go into the second half.

Hemmings led all players with 96 rushing yards. He carried the ball 17 times and caught one pass for six yards.

Doty scored a second touchdown in the game when he made an amazing one-handed reception of a 28-yard pass from Harrison Tatum. Tatum threw for 90 yards on 5-of-9 passing. Tatum also scored twice on the ground but ended the night with negative yards on the ground.

Tatum’s first score came on a 1-yard run that capped off the Indians opening drive of the game, giving his team a 7-0 lead.

Tatum scored again in the fourth quarter on an 11-yard run that gave the Indians a 42-14 lead.

PN-G piled up 249 yards on the ground, using eight different backs in the night. Josh Wright was the team’s second leading rusher. He carried the ball 11 times for 61 yards, helping the Tribe to a total of 20 first downs for the game.

On the other side of the ball, PN-G allowed just 11 first downs and caused four turnovers. Central fumbled a total of seven times but only lost two. The Jags also threw two interceptions.

The first came in the third quarter. The Tribe’s Hagan Crorey jumped a rout and took back his interception for a 29-yard return, setting the Indians up with a first down from Central’s 39-yard line.

Central was able to gain only 199 yards in the game and was forced to punt seven times.

The Indians only blemishes came by way of fumbles. PN-G fumbled the ball three times and two led to Central touchdowns. Central turned a pair of back-to-back fumble recoveries into a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter.

Hall scored both Central’s touchdowns in the first half. He scored on an 8-yard run in the first quarter to knot the game at 7-7. In the second quarter, Hall punched in a 1-yard run to give the Jags a 14-7 lead.

Hall carried the ball for 44 yards on 12 carries.

Nijel Daw scored Central’s final touchdown when he squeezed through the PN-G defense on an 8-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Daw rushed for 39 yards on three carries.