The Gladiators have won 9 of the last 10 match ups against the Jaguars. Senior lineman Anthony Smith believes that the Gladiators will win, but must remain focused on the game. “We’re confident we are going to win,” Smith said. “At the same time our team knows that Cedar comes with distractions. We need to stay focused.” Photo by Carlo Nasisse
By FEAR CHURCHWELL – Staff Writer
Veteran ODYSSEY sports writer Fear Churchwell makes his pick for the Classic City Championship.
Crosstown rivals since 1974. Classic City Championship at stake. 33 Gladiator victories. Fifteen Jaguar victories. Both teams hungry for a win.
Opening the season, Cedar Shoals High School lost its first game to Elbert County High School 40-14. The Clarke Central High School Gladiators are in a similar position heading into the Classic City Championship by losing their first two games to Lanier High School and Hart County High School.
“Gladiator victory 31-13.”
Looking ahead to Friday night’s matchup, Clarke Central has won the last seven meetings between the two teams. The 2014 Classic City Championship was postponed on Friday due to thunder. When the game was called at the end of the first quarter, the Jaguars led 14-6, but the Gladiators rallied the next day to win 44-29.
Though CCHS looked impressive in the first game against HCHS in leading 21-14 against at the half, turnovers cost them the game with the Gladiators coughing up the ball seven times.
Seven turnovers is not going to get the job done.
Despite last week’s 20-37 loss to LHS, CCHS senior defensive tackle Tyrell Gordon has confidence in his team for the Classic City Championship.
“I expect (my teammates) to capitalize,” Gordon said. “All of us (need) to be working together each and every play. I am hoping to get a blowout (against Cedar).”
Complicating matters for the Jags, the team is in the midst of a quarterback controversy between juniors Aakeem Glenn and Rodney Dillard.
“In the scrimmages, we looked at one quarterback each quarter. Our quarterback job has been a really competitive situation,” CSHS varsity head football coach Scott Wilkins said. “Greg Smith, who played quarterback for us last two years, is elsewhere. He plays running back, receiver, in the secondary.”
“I expect (my teammates) to capitalize,” Gordon said. “All of us (need) to be working together each and every play. I am hoping to get a blowout (against Cedar).”
–CCHS Defensive tackle Tyrell Gordon
Controversy aside, the Jaguars did start with an early impressive lead over ECHS, a team featuring five-star athlete Mecole Hardman and is ranked No. 34 in the state by Maxpreps.
Outsider predictions matter little to Wilkins.
“We were 0-10 last year. Why would anybody believe that we’d be any good?” Wilkins said. “And I don’t care what anybody believes except for those 65 guys that are in that locker room over there. They think they’ve got a chance.”
As entertaining as a good Classic City Championship would be, CSHS has not won a game since beating Salem 34-21 on Nov. 1, 2013. CCHS has an explosive return game and offense that, despite the turnovers, Cedar Shoals just can’t handle.
Gladiator victory 31-13.
