Tigers open season tonight at Heavener
The final local high school football team waiting to start its season, the Central Tigers, will have to wait no more.
The final local high school football team waiting to start its season, the Central Tigers, will have to wait no more.
After all the other schools opened their season with a zero week game last week, the Tigers will finally get to play their 2023 season opener at 7 tonight against the homesteading Heavener Wolves at Heavener’s Harvey Stadium.
“We’re super excited about it,” Central coach Jeremy Thompson said. “Everybody around us played a game last week. I know the boys are very anxious to take the field. I’m very happy how we’ve prepared all week so far for Heavener.”
Last year, the Tigers outlasted the Wolves 35-33 to start the season 1-0, so Thompson and his team knows how important it is to get the season off on the right paws.
“You work all year for football season,” he said. “The guys spend time in the weight room. There’s such a long preparation going into Week 1. It’s huge to go in and win it. It’s a great feeling. That’s something we know we’re wanting to get done. Going on the road for the first game, we just have to go win it. We need to go do what we’re supposed to do. If we do, we’ll be fine.”
The Wolves were like the remaining local teams — opened their season with a zero week game, winning 33-32 over Central’s District A-8 foe, the Pocola Indians, on Aug. 24 at Harvey Stadium. The Heavener offense might be described as a juggernaut.
“They’re a good football team,” Thompson said. “They’re big up front. They have two good backs, a quarterback and receivers — good weapons on the field.”
Thompson said the key to a win tonight is performing well in all phases of the game.
“We’ve got to defend and be sound on defense,” he said. “Offensively, we’ve got to take care of the ball, and not have turnovers. We need to be sound on special teams. That’s going to be very important. We have to take care of all aspects of the game.”
• • • To Get There — Take U.S. 64 west to Interstate 40. Take I-40 West to U.S. 59. Take U.S. 59 south to Poteau. Take U.S. Bypass 59 south to U.S. 59. Take U.S. 59 south to Heavener. Once in Heavener, continue south to West Avenue F. Turn left to Heavener High School and Harvey Stadium.
