The Clarke Central High School varsity football team enters the field to begin their game againt North Oconee High School on Sept. 16. Since the start of the 2016 season, the team has shown improvement from previous years and hopes to continue this improvement in the final games of the season. “For those final four games, we are trying to make sure everyone gets healthy. We are going to be making adjustments to the things we haven’t been doing that well and really the biggest thing is to help encourage the team to believe that they are going to win and to have confidence in what they are doing so that they can win,” assistant coach Aaron Cavin said. Photo courtesy of Mary Carroll Waller.
By OLIVIA RIPPS – Sports Editor
Members of the Clarke Central High School varsity football team have noticed an overall improvement in the team since the start of the 2016 season.
Since David Perno was named the head coach of the Clarke Central High School varsity football team, changes have been established, specifically on the defensive side of the ball — a change noticed by CCHS players, including by senior linebacker Byron “Memphis” Spraggins.
“I see a lot (of improvement) on defense and that started with our defensive coordinator and good commitment by the players,” Spraggins said. “We watch film, know what the opponent is trying to do, and the big thing is knowing our weakness. You have to know your weakness.”
Aaron Cavin, 10-year assistant football coach, has also noticed improvement in the team’s defense this season and believes that the offense is capable of improving, as well.
“I think defense has played well all year,” Cavin said. “On the offensive side, we have had some low points, but I feel like on offense, we are getting better each week. We had a setback against Bufford (High School) on offense, but North Oconee (High School), Cedar Shoals (High School) and in these coming weeks, we are going to do really well on offense.”
While there have been improvements, Cavin believes there is still work to be done.
“Well we are doing better this year than we have in the previous 10 years. It has been an improvement. I think we are already building something this year,” Cavin said. “The varsity team is already doing better than we have in the previous two seasons and the ninth grade and middle school team are performing well. We have gotten more coaches and more community involvement and Perno has really got things going in the right direction.”
