Tigers seek first win of season, travel tonight to Warner
The Central Tigers will seek win No. 1 of the new football season as they travel to meet the Warner Eagles at 7 tonight.
The Central Tigers will seek win No. 1 of the new football season as they travel to meet the Warner Eagles at 7 tonight.
The Tigers (0-1) lost the season and home opener 23-14 to the Heavener Wolves last Friday night at Tiger Stadium. Central coach Jeremy Thompson believed the biggest factor in determining the outcome was not taking advantage of the opportunities that the contest provided.
“I think throughout that game, we knew it was going to be a hard-fought game,” Thompson said. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I think there are crucial moments and plays throughout a game, and opportunities, that you have to take advantage of. There were just times we didn’t take advantage of opportunities we had, like a third-down conversion — like in the third quarter, when we got the ball, it’s 16-14 (in Heavener’s favor), and we’re driving — or a fourthdown stop (on defense). The little things add up throughout a game, and we fell short — but there were a lot of things that we took from the game we can learn from. Moving forward, we’re going to be better from it (the loss to Heavener) going into this week against Warner. There were a lot of guys who got put into positions for the first time last Friday night in those crucial moments. I think they have a much better understanding. Game-time experience is huge. Each and every week, we will continue to get better. We’re sure looking forward to going to Warner (tonight).”
In last week’s loss, Braxin Goodson, making his first start at quarterback, was 11-of-19 passing for 120 yards and a touchdown pass to Nathan Vann — who caught three of Goodson’s passes for 39 yards. Five more of Goodson’s passes went to Gavin Randolph for 62 yards.
The Eagles (1-0) won their season opener last Friday night, winning their home opener 3228. Thompson said Warner will have a potential size advantage in the trenches, plus a stellar player who is good as a running back as well as on defense.
“They have a big offense and defensive line,” Thompson said. “They throw the ball quite a bit, so the secondary is definitely going to be tested. The running back is a good player on both sides of the ball.”
Thompson said that the Tigers will need to be good on defense and offense, as well as creating opportunities — and take advantage of those when they happen.
“We’re going to have to go in and play a good, sound football game on defense and execute on the offensive side,” he said. “Those will be the keys. We need to create opportunities. When we do that, the outcome will be a lot different.”
Thompson said the Tigers will enter tonight’s game healthy.
“We have your normal bumps and bruises that you get on Friday night, but, as far as injuries we came out healthy,” Thompson said. “Everybody is ready to go.”
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TO GET THERE — Take U.S. 64 west to Interstate 40. Take I-40 west to Warner.
