By Chris Parker
Central football snapped a 53-game losing streak last year with a Week 3 win over Agape. The Bulldogs went on to win four games in the season.
Central was better in every facet of the game scoring 24.2 points per game, which was the most since 2015. The defense yielded 26.9 points per game, which was the fewest since 2010.
Now the Bulldogs know they have the attention of their opponents.
“The easiest part is to say that people are watching. People are looking at us and saying ‘there is some talent over there despite wins and losses. There is commitment over there.’ My kids understand if they work hard it will pay off in the long run for them,” Central head coach Shem Johnson said.
Central graduated five players who are now playing various levels of college football. The cupboard is far from bare with 13 total starters returning this year.
Defense was a strength last year and will be again this year with nine starters returning.
“A majority of our starters are coming back on defense. We will have two new defensive ends, but the other nine are experienced from a year ago. Coming into camp was easy for defense because it was already ingrained in them,” Johnson said. “We are going to be a pressing defense as far as in-your-face, coming up to get you at the line of scrimmage. We are good tacklers. We want to be sure to get you down. You aren’t going to drive us off the ball like you used to. We have hungry guys. We have guys who have been in the weight room getting stronger. We have a lot still to prove and we have not reached our ceiling yet.”
The middle of the defense will feature twin juniors Devin and Dalvin Adams.
“Both of them talk well. They understand the defense well,” Johnson said. “They will come down and smack you in the mouth. They know the game plan. They are downhill runners. They are 200-meter sprinters. It is tough to get away from these guys.”
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Devin Admas had 69 total tackles with a fumble recovery last year. Dalvin Adams had 55 total tackles and a fumble recovery.
Rowen Hart, who stands 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, will join the Adams Brothers at linebacker.
Up front, Tevon Bush, Roger Mendez and Tavarea Fewell will anchor the defensive line.
The secondary will feature Dre Wells at safety with Mecoast Vaughn and TaeSean Mcshane at the corners.
Wells was a turnover machine last year with seven fumble recoveries and four interceptions which led to two defensive touchdowns. He had 85 total tackles as well. McShane pulled down 22 total tackles from his cornerback spot.
Offensively, Central will look to run the ball with a stable of speedy ball carriers.
“I don’t think (our strength) is any secret; it is our run game,” Johnson said. “We aren’t flashy. We are pick up your lunch box and go to work kind of kids. Every day we come out here we have something to prove. Even more so now. Before it was that we can prove we aren’t an 0-fer team. Now it is proving that just because we won a few games doesn’t mean we have reached our ceiling. We are going to go out and pound the ball. It is going out and making sure we trust ourselves. Trust our ability and trust our program and the style we are trying to play. We are definitely going to bust some wide open. We aren’t trying to hit you quick. If we do, it is going to be a long game for you. Our style is to smack you in the mouth and wear you down. When you are worn down, we are going to run right by you.”
McShane will be at the center of that rushing attack. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior carried the ball 54 times for 434 yards last year.
“He (McShane) is definitely a young man that you see him steaming around the corner there are going to be some guys double checking what is going on,” Johnson said. “He is fast. He ran the 200 in track. His mindset is that his senior year is it. He is highly focused on what he wants from that.”
Tyrell Hurd will have a big role running the ball as well after not playing last year.
“He (Hurd) is another hungry guy that can step in and make everything happen as far as our offense is concerned,” Johnson said.
Devin Adams will also see time running the ball.
Basketball standout Antonio Starks-Fewell will bring his athleticism to the football field at quarterback.
“He is smart kid and a very talented and athletic young man,” Johnson said. “He understands football. He knows how to read a defense. He knows what it is that we are looking for out of that position.”
Vaughn will be a key piece of the passing game at wide receiver.
“He can go up and get the ball for us. He is a little bit of a sky walker. He is a guy we can go out there and he can go get the 50-50 ball.”
Ryman Neal will also play receiver. Wells and Jalen Ndongi will be slot backs.
Up front, Bush returns as a four-year starter. He will use his 6-foot-3, 245-pound frame at right tackle.
Roger Mendez returns to start at center.
“He (Mendez) truly is our anchor,” Johnson said. “He is making all the line calls. He is the all-around athlete on that line. He is just the swing guy we need to do whatever is needed. He is an undersized lineman. He is going up against guys twice as tall and almost twice as big, but he has a no-quit motor.”
Central will open its season and the football season in Missouri on Aug. 25 at home against Clever.
“(We want to) stay competitive and always leave it on the field,” Johnson said. “You saw the beginning of that last year. Things would snowball, but we wouldn’t get down. We would fight to the end. Those schools that thought they would knock us out in the first two to three series and then we would give up; we will play you all the way through for four quarters. Do not give this young, talented group an edge or reason to get upset at you because we are going to take it all the way to triple zeroes.”
