Como Park 29, Central 19

Despite the calendar and the relatively balmy temperatures, there was a showdown at Griffin Stadium on Friday.

Senior quarterback Greg Morse proved to be the standout in an all-around solid team performance as St. Paul Como Park improved to 2-0 with a 28-19 victory over Central.

"Both teams [who came in 1-0] knew what was at stake," Como Park coach Kirby Scull said. "Even at this point, we're looking at where we want to be at the end of the season. This was the battle to be 2-0."

Como Park had the edge in play most of the night, but to Central's credit it made the Cougars work for their victory.

"Every time we play Central, it is going to be a battle," Scull said.

An interception by Central senior defensive back D.J. Johnson led to the first touchdown of the game. The Minutemen's Jordan Larson caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Terrell Frazier for a 7-0 Central lead.

The Cougars tied the score on their next possession, when running back Byron Poole capped a drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. Como Park took its first lead of the game early in the second quarter when junior linebacker Ben Graff scored on a 14-yard interception return.

Como Park ended the first half scoring on a four-yard run by Allen Gonser with 52 seconds to play in the second quarter.

Central got back into the game on its first possession of the second half when Travon Castile-Smaller broke free for a 40-yard touchdown run. The extra-point kick failed.

The Cougars took advantage of a short field to stretch their lead to 28-13. On a drive starting on Central's 34-yard line, Morse threw a strike to tight end Lewis Johnson for a 27-yard TD.

Central cut the Como Park lead to 28-19 with four minutes to play when Frazier connected with Dante Jones on a 20-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion failed.

Dean Spiros • dspiros@startribune.com