The Clarke Central High School varsity football team practices inside the Billy Henderson Stadium on Death Valley Field on Sept. 14. Despite a 0-2 opening record, the team has been working hard for the season ahead of them. “We haven’t gotten off to the start that we wanted to,” CCHS varsity head football coach David Perno said. “It’s no comedy, but this is the season. Region play starts, and that’s when it gets down to it. Those are basically the only games that matter.” Photo by Chloe Sears
The Clarke Central High School varsity football team will play Apalachee High School in the first region game of the season. After two consecutive losses, the team looks to rebound.
The Clarke Central High School varsity football team will play their first Region 8-AAAAA game in Billy Henderson Stadium on Death Valley Field on Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. against Apalachee High School.
With two early-season losses and one by week due to COVID-19, the CCHS varsity football team set its sights on retaining its status as reigning region champion or lose their third game in a row since 2012. If the team wins, they will be one step closer to winning their first consecutive regional championship three-peat since 1986.
“We’re back-to-back Region (8-AAAAA) champs and we got a chance to do three in a row. It’s been a long time since Clarke Central has won three region championships in a row, so the goal is to take care of business now and move forward and make sure we give ourselves a chance to win it three times in a row,” CCHS varsity head football coach David Perno said.
With the Gladiators facing the 0-3 Wildcats, starting quarterback Lucian Anderson, a junior, is excited for tonight’s home game. He sees it as an opportunity to get the team back on the right track.
“I feel like if we win tonight, it’s really going to bring us all together as a team and we’re gonna all have confidence in each other, which we already do, but it’s just (going) to bring more confidence to each other in the team,” Anderson said.
Perno says his players have been working hard in practice, but have struggled with committing to better offensive execution.
“We’ve had seven turnovers on offense (in the) first two games. It doesn’t matter what level you’re playing, you can’t give that other team the ball,” Perno said. “The goal is to make certain that every offensive drive ends with a kick, whether it be a punt, whether it be an extra point or field goal. If we do that, we’re gonna have a lot of success because our defense (has) a chance to be great.”
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