RAYTOWN, Mo. — Central coach Jeff Wallace looked like he just stepped out of the coldest shower of his life. He took off his glasses inside the steamy Raytown locker room and took a moment to breathe.

Raytown South had just beat his Indians 8-0 on Wednesday night at Chittwood Stadium to eliminate the Indians from their first playoff appearance in 16 seasons. Wallace needed a moment to reflect on his second season leading his alma mater where he led Central to its third ever playoff appearance.

“It wasn’t our night; it’s that simple,” Wallace said. I’m not real sure what I can say besides it wasn’t our night for the Indians in anything we did.”

Central started the season 1-3 with three consecutive losses after a season-opening win at North Kansas City.

The year turned around in the team’s next game at Truman. The offense didn’t punt and scored nine touchdowns in a 70-48 shootout.

Central won its next four games with the offense scoring no less than 35 points in that span. Following a loss in Week 9, Central beat Park Hill in Week 10 to secure an elusive playoff berth.

But Wednesday night, nothing went right.

“The things we had done all year long that had been good to us weren’t there tonight,” Wallace said “Not one of them.

“I don’t want this to diminish from what these kids accomplished this season.”

Raytown South scored the only touchdown late in the first quarter when sophomore running back Cameron Henderson scored on a fourth-and-5 play from Central’s 7-yard line. He squeezed through the middle for the touchdown.

Raytown South added the two point conversion and let its defense win the game.

Central’s offense picked up only five first downs against Raytown South’s stout defensive line that came to play and wasn’t bothered by the sideways rain that persisted for all four quarters. Central’s offense mustered only 8 yards of total offense in the first half.

“It was hard; it was really cold. Everyone kept fighting and no one gave up so I’m proud of this team,” Central senior quarterback Darrin Dudley said. “Most people didn’t think we’d make it this far, and we did.”

It didn’t help that Wallace’s offense wasn’t designed to operate in a monsoon.

With single coverage on the outside against wide receivers, Raytown South crowded the box, and Central couldn’t find running room. Senior Corey Jackson, who finished with more than 1,700 yards rushing this season, rushed for 60 yards but 20 of those came late when the Cardinals lost containment on the outside.

Central still had a last-gasp chance with the ball at its own 37-yard line and just less than 4 minutes remaining.

The Indians were out of timeouts but quickly picked up two first downs before Darrin Dudley fumbled a snap. Raytown South sophomore Dezmin Rucker fell on the ball to secure the victory.

Raytown South gifted the Indians good field position on a couple of occasions, including a fumble at the Cardinals’ own 20. The Indians turned to positive field position into negative 14 yards of offense and a turnover on downs.

Central never entered the red zone in the loss.

Central’s all-time record in playoff games now stands at 1-3. Wallace just hopes the underclassmen and use the successful season to build upon going forward.

“Now, there’s something here that the kids can build on,” Wallace said. “This program has some building blocks now.”

Andrew DeWitt can be reached at andrew.dewitt@newspressnow.com.