Central Hosts Ruston Tonight for Regional Championship

After Thrilling Upset, Central Prepares For Ruston This Friday at Wildcat Field

by Woody Jenkins

COVINGTON — Central High School’s 2011 football team has emerged as the Cinderella team of the State 5A playoffs.  Last Friday night, Central, the 32nd seed in the playoffs, defeated the No. 1 seed in the state, mighty St. Paul’s of Covington, 35-28.  It was an unexpected and indeed humiliating loss for St. Paul, especially since Central jumped off to a 21-0 lead at the beginning of the game.

In fact, Central wasn’t even the 32nd seed in the playoffs.  They were actually ranked 33rd in the state.  But, because they won the District 4-5A championship, they took the 32nd spot away from Chalmette, which had to stay home.

Central’s victory made history.  It was the first since the power-point system was adopted in the 1990’s that the 32nd seed had defeated the No. 1 in Class 5A football.

On Saturday, sportswriters around the state were buzzing about Central and what it would do with its success.  Under the playoff system, the No. 1 has the easiest schedule.  Central has now inherited that spot.

Of course, when you get to the second round of the State 5A playoffs, nothing is easy.  Central’s opponent this Friday night at Wildcat Stadium will be the Ruston High School Bearcats.  Both teams are 7-4.

Coaches always want their teams to get better every week, and that has certainly been true of Central.  Everyone knew they would be a young, inexperienced team, but no one suspected they would start five sophomores.

Facing several strong opponents and with its lack of experience, Central ended its first six games with a 2-4 record.

But loaded with talent and picking up valuable experience with each passing week, the Wildcats won the next four games and a share of the District 4-5A championship.

That set the stage for last Friday night’s first round playoff game against St. Paul’s.  Central went into halftime with an unbelievable 27-7 lead.

Just as Central head coach Doug Dotson predicted, St. Paul’s roared back in the 2nd half, scoring 21 unanswered and led the Wildcats 28-27 with only a couple of minutes left on the clock.

But Central quarterback Brett Courville engineered an 80-yard drive that ended with a Zack Evans touchdown from the one yard line.  A Courville-to-Jake Myer pass for a two-point conversion completed the scoring at 35-28 with only 1:04 left on the clock.

As the clock ran out, pandemonium broke out at St. Paul’s field.  It was a sweet victory for the Wildcats and coach Doug Dotson, which more than avenged regular season losses to St. Paul’s the last two years.

Coach Dotson said, “These are Men on a Mission, and they haven’t finished their mission yet.”

He praised the entire Wildcat team and reserved special praise for quarterback Brett Courville, running backs Gary Triplett, Zack Evans and Devon Gales, and wide receiver and sometimes quarterback Jake Myer.

He talked about the offensive line, including Brenton Scardina, Alex Frank, and Thomas Willis.  “I think Willis may have been the ringleader of that group Friday night,” he said.

He praised the Central defense, including Zach Hetrick, Logan Metcalf, and Joey Jarreau.

Running back Gary Triplett, one of Central’s sophomore sensations, once again dazzled fans with his blazing speed and dancing feet.  When Coach Dotson put Triplett into the defensive lineup at the end of the game, as St. Paul’s was making its last-minute push to win, Triplett intercepted the ball and sealed Central’s victory.

There were many heroes during the game.

Ruston will present a challenge to Central.  As a team, it performs somewhere between St. Paul’s and Scotlandville.  They are a solid team and can play with anyone.

Coach Dotson praised Ruston head coach Billy Laird.  “This is someone I really know and admire,” he said.  “They have a storied tradition at Ruston with many state championships and a long history of success.”

“We’re playing for the State Championship this week.  That’s how we feel, and that’s how we have to play to win.  Everything is at stake.  Everything is riding on this game.  We never look forward and never look back.  We focus on the task at hand.”

Dotson said beating St. Paul’s and facing Ruston Friday represent a tremendous opportunity for the athletes, students, school, and the Central community.

If Central wins Friday night, it will face the winner of the Parkway-Mandeville game.