Clarke Central High School head football coach David Perno coaches during the CCHS vs Oconee County High School varsity game in the Billy Henderson Stadium on Aug. 30. Perno is optimistic about the team’s upcoming game against Lanier High School in Sugar Hill, Georgia, but feels the team will have to play hard in the fourth quarter to come out with a win. “So it’s going to be extremely difficult for us this weekend. I think, you know, from our standpoint, we just got to try and be in it in the fourth quarter and hopefully, we can find a way to steal one,” Perno said. Photo by Luna Reichert
On Sept. 20, the Clarke Central High School varsity football team will play at Lanier High School.
The Lanier High School Longhorns (3-0) will host the varsity Clarke Central High School football team (3-1) in their fifth game of the season on Sept. 20.
With CCHS losing to LHS 14-17 in the 2018 season, CCHS head football coach David Perno believes it’s going to be a tough game, and pulling away with a win will be difficult, especially because of an injured defensive line.
“No matter if we were healthy or not, it’s still physically a challenge for us. So now, with all the injuries that we have, it’s going to be extremely difficult,” Perno said.
Because of an injured defense, Perno believes the team is going to rely on the offensive to compensate.
“Our offense is for the most part more healthy than our defense is right is now at this point, and more experienced. We got to continue to keep the gas on offensively and hope we can score 30 and stay in that area,” Perno said.
CCHS wide receiver Jairus Mack, a junior, has been preparing for the game in various ways.
“I watch film all day, every day. Not in class of course, but I watch it a lot,” Mack said. “Practices are more intense. We don’t, we don’t really know how they are cause we haven’t played them yet. So like, everything is harder and faster.”
Mack believes the game will be high scoring and hopes the Gladiators can pull out a win on the road.
“I think it will be high scoring and be like a shoot out. Like we score, they score, like it was last game. We’re going to rely on defense, but you know, offense gonna have to put points on the board. Cause if we don’t, then defense (will) get tired and then it’s going to be a blowout.”
