It wasn’t the way Zachary wanted to open District 4-5A competition - by suffering a 45-28 loss to Central.

The Wildcats (5-1, 1-0) took an early lead as Devon Gales scored on a 4-yard run, and Greg Noel added the PAT.

Central pushed ahead 14-0 on a 52-yard run by quarterback Brett Courville, but Zachary (4-2, 0-1) responded with a 64-yard scoring strike from QB Trey Hills to Donald Gage.

The first-quarter scoring barrage continued as Central’s Lamonte Juneau scored on an 8-yard run, and Noel’s kick gave the Wildcats a 21-7 advantage.

Zachary’s Boston Scott exploded for a 48-yard touchdown run while Jacob Garrett’s PAT closed the gap to 21-14.

The first quarter scoring was capped by a 35-yard field goal by Noel to give the Wildcats a 24-14 lead.

Neither team scored in the second period, but Central’s Paul Broussard stopped a Bronco threat when he raced 87 yards on a fumble return as the Wildcats took a 31-14 lead in the final period.

The two teams exchanged a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the offensive display continued.

Gary Triplett scored on a 56-yard pass from Courville, and Noel’s kick gave Central a 38-14 lead.

Zachary quarterback Hills connected with a Kentrell Fisher for a 18-yard touchdown, and Garrett’s PAT closed the margin to 38-21.

Juneau scored his second touchdown of the game, this time on a 2-yard run, and Noel’s kick closed Central’s scoring at 45-21.

The Broncos responded with one last score – a 12-yard pass from Hills to Forrest Town – and Garrett’s kick closed the final margin to 45-28.

Courville led the Central Wildcats with 123 yards rushing and a touchdown. He also threw for 232 yards and another score.

Scott paced the Broncos on the ground with 149 yards rushing and a score. Hills completed 18-for-27 in passing for a total 247 yards and a three touchdowns.

Gage finished with six catches for 103 yards and a score.

The total offense was close as the Broncos rolled up 200 yards on the ground and 264 passing, compared to Central’s 208 yards rushing and 232 yards passing.

Zachary suffered an interception and lost one of four fumbles, while the Wildcats had no turnovers.

Zachary travels for the first time this season to Scotlandville (3-2, 1-0) on Friday, Oct. 12.

Scotlandville earned a 34-24 win over Denham Springs in their district opener last week.