The Clarke Central High School varsity football team will play Cedar Shoals High School in the 56th edition of the Classic City Championship at 7 p.m. on Aug. 18 at Billy Henderson Stadium. The Gladiators played CSHS on Oct. 18 last season, but this year, CCHS will open their season against their rivals. “As the week progresses, we will talk (to the players) about (staying) away from the distractions,” head varsity football coach David Perno said. “There’s going to be a lot of distractions outside of the game and a lot of build-up for the game. So just stay where your feet are, and just take care of things we got to take care of.” Illustration by Antonio Starks
By the Numbers: Classic City Championship
The Clarke Central High School varsity football team will play Cedar Shoals High School in the Classic City Championship at 7 p.m. on Aug. 18 at Billy Henderson Stadium. The Gladiators have won the last three iterations of the rivalry and will aim to continue that streak on Thursday night, despite losing their recent scrimmage to North Oconee High School on Aug. 5. “Offensively, we (need) to secure the ball a little better and defense (needs to) do exactly what they are capable of doing — creating havoc and hopefully controlling field position and creating some turnovers,” head varsity football coach David Perno said. Photo by Luna Reichert
Following a 14-28 loss to North Oconee High School in a scrimmage on Aug. 5, the CCHS varsity football team will play Cedar Shoals High School in the Classic City Championship at 7 p.m. on Aug. 18 at Billy Henderson Stadium.
Clarke Central High School
All stats are from the 2021-2022 varsity football season except for those marked with *.
(10-3): Overall record of the CCHS varsity football team.
(7-0): Region 8-AAAAA record for the Gladiators
(6-3): Home record for the CCHS varsity football team.
(4-0): Away record for the CCHS varsity football team.
400: Total points scored by the Gladiators.
223: Total points allowed by the Gladiators.
1002: Total passing yards for the CCHS varsity football team.
2384: Total rushing yards for the CCHS varsity football team.
34: Total sacks by the Gladiators’ defense.
14: Total interceptions caught by the Gladiators’ defense.
3: Playoff round the Gladiators lost in.
3: Number of wins in a row versus the Jaguars.
71: Georgia State ranking for the Gladiators according to MaxPreps Computer Rankings.*
Cedar Shoals High School
(3-7): Overall record of the CSHS varsity football team.
(3-3): Region 8-AAAA record for the Jaguars
(2-1): Home record for the CSHS varsity football team.
(1-6): Away record for the CSHS varsity football team.
191: Total points scored by the Jaguars.
312: Total points allowed by the Jaguars.
1347: Total passing yards for the CSHS varsity football team.
900: Total rushing yards for the CSHS varsity football team.
9: Total sacks by the Jaguars defense.
4: Total interceptions caught by the Jaguars defense.
1: Playoff round the Jaguars lost in.
2018: The last year the CSHS varsity football team beat the Gladiators.
174: Georgia State ranking for the Jaguars according to MaxPreps Computer Rankings.*
Game Preview
Players from the Clarke Central High School and Cedar Shoals High School varsity football teams compete in the 2020 Classic City Championship. After the Gladiators lost to North Oconee High School in a scrimmage on Aug. 5, head varsity football coach David Perno wants to see a more complete performance from his team in the 56th installment of the rivalry on Aug. 18. “Who we are, what we stand for, what we believe in and then how we play the game; you hope that that shows up (against CSHS),” Perno said. “(I) just hope that we play close to our identity this Thursday and I feel good that things will fall into place.” Photo by Luna Reichert
The CCHS varsity football team will take on the Cedar Shoals High School Jaguars in the Classic City Championship at 7 p.m. on Aug. 18 in Billy Henderson Stadium.
Following a loss to North Oconee High School in a scrimmage on Aug. 5, the Clarke Central High School varsity football team will play Cedar Shoals High School in the 56th Classic City Championship at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 18 in Billy Henderson Stadium.
According to head varsity football coach David Perno, the Gladiators didn’t play their best in their 14-28 loss to NOHS. However, Perno believes the two weeks of practice since that scrimmage means the team is more prepared for the upcoming rivalry game.
“Our kids did a great job of bouncing back after the North Oconee scrimmage and getting to work and cleaning up the things we need to clean up,” Perno said. “We were able to see some things we need to address immediately and last week was really good for us.”
“Our kids did a great job of bouncing back after the North Oconee scrimmage and getting to work and cleaning up the things we need to clean up. We were able to see some things we need to address immediately and last week was really good for us.”
— David Perno,
head varsity football coach
In practice, Perno has been working with the Gladiator defense on limiting the big plays in the passing game and being explosive on the offensive side of the ball, two things that Perno thought were lacking in the scrimmage. However, CCHS senior and starting quarterback Lucian Anderson III believes that the result was the product of poor focus.
“I feel like since it was a scrimmage, some of the guys kind of overlooked it a little bit more than (they should have),” Anderson said. “They should have locked in a little bit more than what they did.”
After refining their technique in practice, the coaches’ attention turned towards getting their team focused on the game and not the emotional baggage it carries.
“At the end of the day, it’s not a (Region 8-AAAAA) game for us. (We’re) gonna be excited and energized, not only (with it) being the first game, but (with it) also being the Classic City Championship,” Perno said. “From that standpoint, (it’s) just getting them to focus on execution.”
Although Perno tries to keep the game in perspective, some emotional aspects of the rivalry are inevitable. However, while the game is often viewed as a battle between two rival schools, CCHS senior and defensive end Dailen Howard sees it as unifying.
“It’s really like Athens coming together. It’s a rivalry, but we all know each other and it’s just love,” Howard said.
“It’s really like Athens coming together. It’s a rivalry, but we all know each other and it’s just love.”
— Dailen Howard,
CCHS boys varsity football defensive end
For many on the team, including Howard, this game will be their last Classic City Championship before they depart CCHS.
“I feel good about it, but at the same time, it’s kind of sad cause it’s my last rivalry game in high school,” Howard said. “I gotta come out and prove a point this game.”
Classic City Timeline
Band Preview
The Clarke Central High School band performs at a football game against Greenbrier High School on Oct. 15, 2021 at Billy Henderson Stadium. According to band member Myriah Burton, a freshman, the marching band needs to perform well at the Classic City Championship because of the game’s significance. “It’s definitely been a lot knowing (the) majority of us (have) been in Athens so (we) know about the rivalry,” Burton said. “We have to make sure everything is on point, not a missed note, not a missed step (and that) everything is as good as it can be.” Photo by Lucas Donnelly
The CCHS marching band will perform during the 56th Classic City Championship at 7:00 p.m. on Aug. 18 at Billy Henderson Stadium.
The 56th Classic City Championship will be held at 7 p.m. on Aug. 18 in Billy Henderson Stadium where the Clarke Central High School band will perform to increase the players morale.
The Cedar Shoals High School and CCHS rivalry has been a part of the community since the first time it was played in 1974, and every year the band supports the players. According to CCHS drum major Salai Diekumpuna, a senior, the band’s passion for their program will make Thursday’s appearance special.
“Asking (for) a three-hour rehearsal is tough for anybody, especially students in their first year,” Diekumpuna said. “(The) fact that everyone comes to rehearsal and takes care of business consistently will make this an amazing show, (and) as a senior, I’m very excited because I’ve never seen a more dedicated group prepare to step out on the field.”
“Asking (for) a three hour rehearsal is tough for anybody, especially students in their first year. (The) fact that everyone comes to rehearsal and takes care of business consistently will make this an amazing show, (and) as a senior I’m very excited because I’ve never seen a more dedicated group prepare to step out on the field.”
— Salai Diekumpuna,
drum major
After all of the hard work the band has put in, clarinetist Myriah Burton, a freshman, is excited to play in front of an awaiting audience.
“I feel like it’ll definitely be a good game knowing Clarke Central and Cedar have a rivalry. The games are always fun, so I wouldn’t expect anything less or anything (other than that),” Burton said.
While the game will be Burton’s first time performing in the Classic City Championship, it will be the last one for seniors such as Diekumpuna.
“It’s sad that this is my last Classic City (Championship), especially since it’s where my love of Friday night lights started,” Diekumpuna said. “I’m so incredibly happy to be (a part) of a band with that much love and I hope to give that same love to the freshman so that they’ll carry it with them wherever they end up their senior year.”
Cheerleading Preview
The Clarke Central High School varsity football cheerleading team performs during the Gladiators’ 46-6 win over Jackson High School. CCHS class of 2011 alumna Tempestt McWhorter was named the new football cheerleading coach this year and understands the importance of the upcoming Classic City Championship. “I cheered here when I went to school here from 2007 to 2011, so I remember how big of a deal it was then,” McWhorter said. “Now, it’s even bigger, and so getting to be the coach makes me excited because my coaches were excited for us (when I was a player) and I’m excited too.” Photo by Lucas Donnelly
The CCHS varsity football cheerleading team hopes to boost school spirit during the 56th edition of the Classic City Championship at 7 p.m. on Aug 18 at Billy Henderson Stadium.
The Clarke Central High School varsity football cheerleading team will make their first appearance of the season during the Classic City Championship against Cedar Shoals High School on Aug. 18.
According to CCHS head varsity football cheerleading coach Tempestt McWhorter, the CCHS varsity football cheerleading team has been working diligently over the summer to bring the team closer together.
“We’ve been doing a lot of team bonding for all of our girls to get to know each other, (but) we lost a good amount of seniors last year so we’re kind of rebuilding our team,” McWhorter said. “We started having practices in the summer to just begin conditioning and (get) ready for the season, learning cheers (and) things like that.”
“We’ve been doing a lot of team bonding for all of our girls to get to know each other, (but) we lost a good amount of seniors last year so we’re kind of rebuilding our team. We started having practices in the summer to just begin conditioning and (get) ready for the season, learning cheers (and) things like that.”
— Tempestt McWhorter,
head varsity football cheerleading coach
Varsity football cheerleader Mekelle Ezekiel, a sophomore, believes getting the fans on their feet is a crucial responsibility of the cheerleading team in hopes of increasing team spirit and performance.
“I think (it’s) really important when we get hype (because) the (CCHS) student section, they also get really hyped and it’s really fun,” Ezekiel said. “The football players get hyped (from) seeing (the cheerleading team) and everybody else (is hyped) and it makes them perform better, so I think all around it’s just a great experience.”
According to McWhorter, the cheer team is ready to showcase their cheers and hard work.
With two months of practice behind their back, the cheer team is primed for the special occasion of the Classic City Championship.
“They are so excited, they are so ready, with this being the first game of the season, the adrenaline is starting to rush now,” McWhorter said. “They’re really just excited to get out there and show off all the things they’ve been working hard for.”
By the Numbers and game preview by Wyatt Meyer
1 comment
[…] Features […]
Comments are closed.