Central earns forfeit win

Technically, Central High will not post the first winless season in program history.

Buried under an avalanche of tough losses and mounting injuries, the Bears got some good news late last week from the Florida High School Athletic Association.

Central Athletic Director Jeff Spivey confirmed that Ocala-West Port had forfeited a 19-0 victory over the Bears on Oct. 9 because it used an ineligible player.

Spivey said he received the news from Principal Dennis McGeehan after the FHSAA informed the school.

Central has gone 0-8 on the field this season heading into Friday's game at Springstead, and dropped 12 in a row on the field overall.

The Bears have now benefitted from two forfeit wins in that span, including one against Nature Coast at the end of the 2008 season.

That game was never played, as Nature Coast was punished for an altercation at Groveland-South Lake the previous week.

Against West Port, the host Bears limited the Wolf Pack to four first downs and 89 yards of offense on 31 plays, yet coughed up three turnovers returned for touchdowns.

Neither Central Head Coach Cliff Lohrey nor West Port Head Coach Stanley Livengood has returned calls seeking comment.