Central Purple Pounders back to work after 'complete game' win

When Central beat East Hamilton in football last week, it actually was the third time the Purple Pounders had accomplished that feat.

Their two previous wins, though, came in 2009 and 2010 - the Hurricanes' first two seasons to field a team. So it had been five years and four head coaches since Central beat them.

"It was good. I can't even put into words how great it was for us," first-year Central coach Cortney Braswell said of the 14-9 victory. "It was a tough game from start to finish, but we finally put in a complete game. I told the kids it proves that if you play four quarters you give yourself a chance to win."

In his mind that victory was earned.

"Livingston gave us opportunities to win," he said. "This one, against a quality opponent and at their place, we took it."

But with a playoff appearance all but in their grasp, Braswell made sure the Pounders put aside the euphoria and went back to work on Monday.

"I told the guys to enjoy it Friday night and Saturday. It was business as usual. I was excited for the kids and the community," he said. "For me it was looking at what we did not do well and why we made it harder for ourselves."

To this day he's looking to improve on situations where he feels the Pounders let games get away from them.

"We had several games where we were within striking distance with eight to 10 minutes left on the clock. We didn't finish, and one thing about not finishing is that you don't get overconfident," Braswell said. "This week is like any other. We have focused on fixing our mistakes and maximizing our focus and effort.

"I've been waiting for the time we didn't put ourselves in a hole, and last week we did it and beat a good team to do it."

Chattooga shorthanded

Just as Chattooga got healthy and played its most complete game of the season in a 31-7 win over Model, the Indians received bad news this week. Quarterback Isaac Foster, who has accounted for 1,107 total yards while also helping anchor the secondary, will miss at least two games after undergoing surgery to remove his appendix.

"We were healthy going into and coming out of the Model game, really for the first time all year, but then we found out about Isaac," Chattooga coach Charlie Hammon said. "He woke up Tuesday morning in pain and went to the hospital, where they did the surgery to remove his appendix."

C.J. Martin will start in his place tonight against Armuchee and next week at Dade County. Hammon hopes to get Foster back by the Pepperell game.

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