MARTINSBURG — Central’s senior night match against Tyrone couldn’t have gone more smoothly on Tuesday night.

Not only did the Scarlet Dragons recognize their seniors and coaches before the match, they also bulldozed their way to an 8-0 record in the first eight bouts, including five falls.

Highlighted by a gutsy performance from injured junior Brooks Matthews at 145, the now 15-3 Scarlet Dragons overcame having to forfeit two bouts en route to a 50-24 victory over the Golden Eagles.

“There were some good things and some bad things,” said Central coach Dave Marko. “We’re always looking to improve in every position. We went into the weekend (at the Claysburg-Kimmel Duals) banged up and had a lot of guys sick. We’re starting to get through that I hope.”

“Wrestling is an unforgiving sport,” Tyrone coach Quentin Wright said. “If you don’t know it and don’t put effort into it, results like that happen.”

Central’s Ty Matthews started the dual meet at 107 by scoring seven points in the third period against Tanner Walk with a takedown and a late four-point nearfall in a 12-0 major decision.

“He grinded it out,” Marko said. “There were multiple times where we had arm bars ready to run and Walk did a good job of tying up our legs to keep us from coming around.”

Tyrone’s Jonah Wicker shot out to a 7-2 lead on Central sophomore Nathan Morris at 114. But Morris scored a reversal with 49 seconds left in the second period, put Wicker on his back and got the fall in 3:37.

“Nate Morris is a tough little nut,” Marko said with a smile. “He wrestles anybody and always does it with a smile on his face. We knew that Nate had some ability, but Nate has far outshined what we were going to be getting this year.”

That led to Carsen Mowery’s fall in 26 seconds at 121, Central senior Bailey Wilt built an 11-2 before getting a pin in 4:15 at 127.

“It’s nice for Bailey to get a win on senior night,” Marko said. “It was a typical Bailey-type match. He’s like Gumby. He’s ultra flexible and tough to pin down.”

After Joel Morris then won by forfeit at 133, Central sophomore Bryer Mickel powered his way to a fall in 1:41 to give the Scarlet Dragons a 34-0 lead.

Tyrone’s Coltyn Frye took Brooks Matthews down in the first period at 145, but an interlocking point and a reversal tied the score at 3-3. Wearing a brace to protect his right shoulder, Matthews took an injury timeout and used up nearly all of his time.

Matthews, though, continued and took Frye down to his back for a six-point move and a 9-3 lead in the second period. In the third period, as Central fans and Marko watched intently, Matthews reversed and scored four nearfall points. A Frye escape was the last point of the bout.

“It’s the first time Brooks has wrestled a high school match since his freshman year,” Marko said. “He was very, very successful in the offseason coming back from an injury. We’ll have to see how this moves forward.

Brooks is a pretty tough kid, so I did think he was going to finish. There were multiple times I kind of gave him an out and he didn’t want to take it.”

Senior Kaden Horn gave the Scarlet Dragons a 44-0 lead with a fall in 39 seconds at 152.

Rhys Rawlings broke the shutout at 160 by building an 18-4 lead on Jeremiah Hart and notching the fall in 3:26.

“He did what he was supposed to do,” Wright said. “Rhys took his lumps this weekend (at the Mountaineer Duals) and wrestled really tough kids. To be able to get a match like that was good for him.”

With no Central wrestlers weighing in at 172 and 189, Tyrone Mason VanAllman won by forfeit at 172 and Kyler Suhoney won by forfeit at 189.

Tyrone’s Kyle Scott, who recently was ranked No. 1 by PA Power Wrestling at 189, moved up to 215 and won by fall in 1:03.

Central’s Blair Miller closed the match with a 14-second pin.

Afterward, the Scarlet Dragons mingled with their parents and friends before enjoying a post-match senior night celebration.

“We’ll go back and eat some pizza and Buffalo chicken dip,” Marko said laughing.

107–T. Matthews, C, maj. dec. Walk, 12-0; 114–N. Morris, C, pinned Wicker, 3:37; 121–Mowery, C, pinned Veloz, :26; 127–Wilt, C, pinned Gwinn, 4:15; 133–J. Morris, C, won by forfeit; 139–Mickel, C, pinned Sain, 1:41; 145–B. Matthews, C, maj. dec. Frye, 15-4

152–Horn, C, pinned Weber, :39; 160–Rawlings, T, pinned Hart, 3:26; 172–VanAllman, T, won by forfeit; 189–K. Suhoney, T, won by forfeit; 215–Scott, T, pinned Brown, 1:03; 285–Miller, C, pinned Eaken, :14.

Records: Tyrone (2-10), Central (15-3)

Referee: Jeff Beach