Central High Makes History: 1st Time Ever No. 32-Seed Beat No. 1-Seed in 5A Football

Central High’s Cinderella Team Wouldn’t Quit

by David Simoneaux, Jr, Central High Assistant Coach

An Open Letter to the Central High football team on the day before the playoff game against Ruston.

Men,

I know no better way to pay tribute to you than to pen some of your story along with some of my favorite quotations. Although words are less than adequate to do justice to what you have accomplished, the following is my humble attempt.

Please take a trip with me down memory lane to remember this journey that we have embarked on. I pray that you find courage and inspiration in these words and that you continue fighting with all your heart for the dream that this band of brothers set out to accomplish nearly 12 months ago.

No. 1: “The Vision of a Champion is someone who is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion, when no one else is watching.”  — Anson Dorrance

Long before the fanfare and the glimmer of Friday night lights began, you volunteered yourself to be put through the most grueling offseason in Central Football history.

It may have come as a shock to most of you when we started our offseason PROCESS in November of last year after an early first round exit of the state playoffs. Your commitment to do “Whatever It Takes” laid the groundwork for the success we are currently enjoying.

We were not just men on a mission last week.  We began construction of this mission last November.  St. Paul’s, Live Oak, Scotlandville, Walker, and Denham were on the wrong end of it.

Remember the mottos: “Time to go to work… All we want is all you’ve got… Through these doors walk the toughest and hardest working athletes in the state… There is only one type of pace…PTP… Nobody is going to give it to you — you have got to EARN IT… Invest your time… There is only one way to do things around here… We are training you to be uncommon… BE THE BEST… You gotta be HUNGRY. You have to WANT IT MORE than them…”

Workouts on the whistle, Railroad squats, general strength circuits, 300 yard shuttles… I could go on and on. Many of your ex-teammates began this journey and decided that that type of intensity was not for them.

Make no mistake, the miracles that have occurred over these last fives weeks are the product of your blood, sweat, tears, and commitment to one another.

As the great Bo Schembechler said: “Those who stay will be champions.”

No. 2: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands during times of comfort and convenience, but where he stands during times of challenge and controversy.” MLK Jr.

“Who are we? Who are you?” These were the words of Coach Dotson after we hit the rock bottom of our season following a 42-38 heartbreaker to Zachary.

“How we fight day in and day out for the rest of the season will show what type of character we have on this football team. Seniors: Are you going to be the group that bowed out after we came upon hard times… when nobody but the people in this room believed that we could do it? Or are you going to go back to work, bow up, and write a legacy that is defined by grit, resilience, and a never-say-die attitude?”

This group has answered the challenge. Your character and mettle have been tested. When all counted you out, you remained true to your convictions, true to your training, true to your upbringing.

“All I know to do is to go back to work” I remember saying after we endured our fourth loss to Zachary in a gut-wrenching 42-38 ball game.

When most would have felt sorry for themselves and coasted throughout the rest of the season, we took hold of our own destiny. We had our best workout of the year that morning, followed by the storied five-game winning streak.

All you guys know how to do is to go back to work and to continue to bring your personal best day in and day out. Your resilience and desire not to let the man next to you down during this stretch has been incredible.

No. 3: “Define the Moment, or the Moment Will Define You.”

—Walt Whitman

I am not a believer in luck, or in happenstance. I believe that winning is a culmination of events. It is the product of the day in and day out commitment to excellence.

With that being said, it is hard for me to single out a moment in time or a single play that has defined our season. But there are a few moments in this year’s season that are characteristic of this team’s never-say-die attitude that I have the pleasure of seeing day in and day out.

Moment 1: Logan Metcalf. The stop you and the defense made against Denham in OT was incredible. Think about this: Our defense had given up 42 points the week before and was missing three starters to season-ending injury. Nobody gave us a chance to stop Denham’s powerful rushing attack with 4 plays inside of the 10-yard line, but not everybody knows about CENTRAL FIGHT!

Moment 2: Hunter Cazes and Brett Courville. With 4:46 left to go in the 4th quarter we found ourselves trailing  by 7 to the super-talented Scotlandville Hornets. After a bad snap and a penalty, we faced a seemingly insurmountable 3rd and 36 to go from our own 18. Most say that pass was luck, but most have not seen you two work day in and day out with the fervor and intensity you do in the weight room and on the practice field. And 82 yards later the combined work ethic of you two warriors found Central back in the ballgame. CENTRAL FIGHT!

Moment 3: Central Defense. Most teams only get 4 downs from inside the 4 yard line, but Scotlandville was issued 8 downs inside of our own 10 yard line after a controversial pass interference call on the first 4th down possession of Scotlandville in OT.

What a will to win! On “8th” Down Scotlandville went home defeated. CENTRAL FIGHT!

Moment 4: Central Offense. Trailing the No. 1-seeded St. Paul’s Wolves by one point, with 5:45 left to go in the fourth quarter, the Central Offense was given the opportunity to go and make history.

In a warrior effort against one of the top-ranked defenses in the state, we drove 80 yards in 14 plays  and left no doubt that we were not going home in Week 1.

Men, that is the stuff they write stories about. CENTRAL FIGHT!

No. 4: “Well, we’ve had pretty good success, But winning is only a byproduct of everything else we do — and it’s certainly not the way we evaluate ourselves.”

— Joe Ehrmann

The victories on the field this year have been great, but if you weren’t a great group of young men this would not be worth it.

We are ultimately going to be measured by what we did with what God gave us as Jesus talked about in the parable of the talents.

I told you today that I cannot stand unfulfilled potential. “This is not about a game, it is about life,” said my best friend Brad Booth (who has been diagnosed with cancer) when he came to speak to you.

The lessons you are learning today about commitment, work ethic, the importance of getting it done in the classroom — how to continue to fight when the chips are all stacked against you — are the things that are going to make you better people in this community — better husbands, fathers, friends and mentors.

We tell you all the time: “We are training you for excellence… We are training you to be uncommon.”  Thank you for carrying that torch so well!   I am so proud to be a part of a program of coaches and young men who hold themselves to a standard of excellence on and off of the field.

No. 5: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

1 Corinthians 10:31

What a blessing it is to be a part of a school system and a football program that has its priorities straight.

We challenge you all the time to play in such a way that you inspire all who watch you and that when you are through, you give the Glory to God.

We have the freedom to pray after practice and after ball games. What an awesome sight it is to see the whole Central community huddled around the football team as it gives thanks to God for victory each Friday night.

Let that continue to be the heartbeat of this football team and this community.

What an honor it is to lead such a fine group of young men into tomorrow night’s contest. I know you will bring your best tomorrow night for your coaches, community, Christ, and family.

You are truly Central’s finest.

To God be the Glory.

Hungry and Humble

Coach Simoneaux

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial. For once he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

James 1:12