If there’s three things the Central Tigers football team can hang their helmets on in 2023, it’s the experience factor, the depth factor and the speed factor.
“The depth and experience on both sides of the football is something we’re going to rely on this year,” Central coach Jeremy Thompson said. “There’s no defense against experience. The thing about us defensively is our speed. Our team speed across the boards as good as it’s been in a long time. These guys can run. They’re very smart players, so there’s a lot of excitement around football here.”
Thus, that’s making for a lot of optimism for this season, which will start at 7 p.m. next Friday against the Heavener Wolves at Heavener’s Harvey Stadium.
“Our expectations are high here,” Thompson said. “They are, year in and year out. Last year, we were coming from a 3-7 season (in 2021). We had a lot of freshmen and sophomores (in 2021 season). Going into last season, we wanted that Quapaw (Class A opening-round playoff) game really bad. The thing about that is we’re definitely hungry to start the 2023 season. We return a whole lot of starters. There are 13 guys on this team with three years experience. We’re very hungry. The fall camp, preseason and practice have been amazing. The guys are working hard. The excitement is there. We’re ready to start Sept. 1.”
Central’s quarterback will be Joseph Lee.
“Joseph has been a football player since Day 1,” Thompson said. “He’s going to be a four-year starter, and a two-year starter at quarterback with lots of experience. He did a tremendous job last year at the quarterback position. He gives us a dual threat. Joseph’s ability to run and throw the ball with the weapons he has at receiver.”
Lee will have a plethora of wide receivers to whom to throw the ball — Cade Tucker, Isaac Rogers, Hunter Pack, Nathan Vann and Xhaiden Mosby.
“We’ve got weapons at the receiver positions,” Thompson said.
There’s also depth in the offensive backfield behind Lee with Gibby Mitchell, Coy Black-burn, Easton Girty.
“Gibby is doing a tremendous job,” Thompson said. “He’s been a good football player and a great halfback. When you put Coy in the backfield with (Mitchell) as a runner and Easton at tailback — and when you put those guys out there to go with Joseph — I feel like our offense is very strong and have depth.”
The most experienced bunch of Tigers is their offensive line of left tackle Tyler “Chooch” Busch, left guard Mekko Ariza, center Ethan McKinney, right guard Cole Holcomb and right tackle Josh Marino.
“The thing I love about this team offensively is there are five returning starters on the offensive line,” Thompson said. “Then, we have Logan Rouell, who is sitting right there who fits any of those spots when needed. We have senior Derek Young who will be a three-year starter. The experience up front leads your football team. They win the war in the trenches. They’re battling every play. I’m very excited about those offensive linemen.”
Central’s defensive linemen also should be a team strength.
“We’re basing out of a 3-4 defense,” Thompson said. “The way we look at it is at those three downlinemen (position), we’re two deep. We’ll be able to play lots of guys — Isaac Rogers, Easton Girty, Josh Marino, Mekko Ariza, Cole Holcomb, Derek Young and Ethan McKinney. That allows depth for us in games, especially early on this season when we need to use them.”
The linebacking corps of Pack, Busch, Blackburn and Mitchell also are solid.
“Hunter is definitely solid,” Thompson said. “Gibby will play some at outside linebacker for us. He’s a guy who can fit multiple positions.”
The defensive backfield will be comprised of Lee and Connor Green at safeties and Braxin Goodson to go with cornerbacks Mosby, Tucker and Aidan Sainer.
“The (defensive) secondary is returning both safeties,” Thompson said. “We’ve had a sophomore that’s really stepped up since spring ball and fall camp, Braxin Goodson. I think Braxin is definitely going to be able to help us in the secondary along with the cornerbacks.”
