The primary ingredients for a successful prep football season begin, of course, with a roster rife with talent and depth, plus a dash of keen coaching.
In his second stint as Central’s head coach, Curt Jones has overhauled his staff and built up the roster into a region contender’s role as the program looks to win its first outright league championship since 1986, when the team reached the third round of the playoffs.
The Purple Pounders shared a region crown last season with East Hamilton and Red Bank, but they have never held sole possession of a league title since the TSSAA implemented the region format in 1993.
While this season has only just begun, Jones and company hope the added touch of family spice will help push things from solid to special this fall on the way to a potential Region 3-4A championship run.
With a region slate that’s about to heat up this month, Central has the rare chance to take charge of its postseason fate even before the fall temperatures cool things down. That run began with last week’s impressive 20-point region win over Soddy-Daisy, picks back up Friday at Hixson, then includes league co-favorite Red Bank in another road matchup next week before East Hamilton visits Central on the final Friday of September.