CENTRAL (10-3 in 2015)
Coach: Ty Scroggins (10th season, 92-37).
Starters back: Offense 3, defense 4.
Class: 3-A, District 3.
Player to watch: Running back Corey Johnson (5-11, 185 pounds) is back for his senior year after rushing for a team-high 558 yards and nine touchdowns last year. Scroggins said Johnson has the speed to match former Central star and current Western Kentucky University running back Ace Wales. “He’s a guy who knows how to play on Friday nights, and he has the talent to be back there,” Scroggins said. “He just has to trust his speed.”
MORE COVERAGE | Class 3-A preview, preseason poll
Other top players: QB James Simpson (Sr.), RB Chereioun Jones (Sr.), WR Davon Hall (Jr.), LB Jonathan Dooley (Sr.), LB Luke Bowman (Jr.), WR/DB Quincy Baines (Sr.).
Outlook: Central lost 27 seniors off last year’s squad that fell to Boyle County 14-13 in a regional final. “We’re going to be fairly young out on the field, but we have 22 seniors who have played a good JV schedule and hopefully Friday nights won’t be too big for them,” Scroggins said. Simpson has shared time at quarterback since his freshman season but will be the primary starter this year. “It’s James’ time to lead Central, and hopefully he’s up to the challenge,” Scroggins said. The defense is led by a pair of solid linebackers in Bowman (88 tackles) and Dooley (78 tackles) and Baines (six interceptions) in the secondary. Baines has played little defense in practice this preseason as he learns the offense at the wide receiver spot, where the Yellowjackets lost their top three performers from last year.
Schedule:
8/19 MANUAL
8/26 at Corbin
9/2 at Christian Academy
9/9 at St. Xavier
9/23 *WAGGENER
9/29 *at Moore
10/7 *THOMAS NELSON
10/14 *at Bardstown
10/21 *HENRY COUNTY
10/28 at PRP
*District game