Central Purple Pounders
Coach: John Allen (5-15 in two years here; 72-69 in 13 years overall)
Last year: 2-8.
'13 dreams: More offense, definitely more wins. In five of their eight 2012 losses the Pounders were ahead at halftime. Junior quarterback Scout Morgan has provided what Allen called "precision passing" in the team's 7-on-7 scrimmages, and a high completion percentage will be a must as Central goes from a wing-T to the spread offense. Junior running back Kevin McKenzie will ease some of the pressure. There are eight starters returning on each side of the ball and the Pounders have a capable kicker in Tareq Faleh as they try for their first playoff appearance since 2010, when they went 6-5 in Sam Montgomery's one year as head coach.
13-for-13 contenders: While Morgan is a first-year starter, he must perform well if Central is to move the football consistently. Sean Montgomery is an outstanding linebacker and the Tillers - receiver Tre and defensive back Terry - will be fairly new to opponents. Tre has "grown a foot and gotten faster," and Terry "was injured last year so nobody got to see him," Allen said.
Number of interest: The Pounders will play Marion County on Sept. 13 in the first meeting between two of the area's oldest programs.
13 years ago: The Pounders went 3-7 under first-year coach Curt Jones, who would lift the program to an 8-4 record three years later with the school's first playoff victory since 1986. Allen was in his first year as a head coach and led Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe to its first win over Ridgeland.
1-through-3: Linebacker Sean Montgomery
Q. How tough was the 2-8 last year?
A. It was a tough pill to swallow - heartbreaking because we had so much talent and speed. There was a lot of confusion within the team. We never really came together, and there were too many guys thinking games were over when we were ahead at the half. Guys know now that games aren't over till the clock reads 00:00.
Q. Who's the best player on the team?
A. I can't really say. Everybody has an equal share in the team, and they're all good at their positions.
Q. What about goals?
A. One is to come together as a team and develop a strong connection, then win games and get in the playoffs.
- Ward Gossett
2013 Schedule
Aug. 30 Polk County
Sep. 6 East Ridge *
Sep. 13 at Marion County
Sep. 20 at Red Bank *
Oct. 4 Tyner *
Oct. 11 Brainerd *
Oct. 18 at Howard *
Oct. 25 Hixson *
Nov. 1 at McMinn Central
- District 6-AA game
2012 statistics
Passing C-A-I Pct. Yards TDs
Dominique Dawson 37-85-5 661 5
Rushing Att. Yards TDs
Michael Ray 67 320 5
Sean Montgomery 27 159 0
TaQuan Johnson 53 155 0
Receiving No. Yards TDs
Kevin McKenzie 22 181 4
Traviunta Trammell 14 177 2
Roster
No. Name Class
1 Terry Tiller Senior
2 Kevin McKenzie Junior
3 David Pollard Junior
4 Brian Billingsley Junior
5 Tyler Lowe Junior
6 Josh Cooper Senior
7 Isyah Funk Sophomore
8 Devin Swafford Sophomore
9 Ja'Quarius Cole Senior
10 Thomas Crownover Sophomore
11 Tre Tiller Junior
12 Jamaine Akins Senior
13 Phillip Bonnington Junior
14 Skylor Turner Freshman
15 Scout Morgan Junior
16 Jacob DeLorenzo Junior
17 Dakota Fowler Sophomore
18 Wyatt Green Sophomore
19 Jeffrey Gaines Sophomore
20 Jarred Walker Senior
21 Sean Montgomery Senior
22 Ryan Tool Sophomore
23 Taven Spann Sophomore
24 Adarius Ray Junior
25 James Walker Sophomore
26 C.J. Montgomery Freshman
27 Xavier Norwood Junior
28 Shymez Brabson Freshman
29 Tareq Faleh Junior
30 Ryan Montgomery Sophomore
31 Tracy Penson Junior
32 Chris Burns Freshman
33 Alonzo Heyward Freshman
34 Brian Sledge Sophomore
35 Peyton Nichols Freshman
36 Chris Foy Junior
37 Jax Brown Freshman
38 DayQuan Witcher Sophomore
39 Zadarius Williams Freshman
40 Jamel Metcalf Junior
41 Dawson Bellomy Freshman
42 Josh May Freshman
43 Spencer Bayless Sophomore
44 Tucker Smith Freshman
45 Antonio Baker Junior
47 Kajuan Depree Freshman
48 Isaac Coffman Freshman
49 Tyler Cartwright Senior
50 Patrick McGhee Sophomore
51 Dylan Neely Junior
52 Eddie Gillette Sophomore
53 Montrel Price Sophomore
54 JonathanLittle Sophomore
55 Morris Chatman Junior
56 Corey Little Sophomore
57 Sam Stephenson Junior
58 Ashby Wilson Sophomore
59 Terrance Brown Freshman
61 Brandon Kent Freshman
62 Chris Easting Sophomore
63 Jared King Senior
64 Alex Padavana Freshman
66 Alexander Lloyd Senior
67 Jordan Long Sophomore
69 Gavin Ainslie Freshman
70 Caleb Morgan Junior
71 Hayden Forgey Junior
72 Andrew Wilson Sophomore
73 Curtis Noiseaux Sophomore
74 Holt Kirk Sophomore
77 Bradley Carson Senior
78 Jordan Guidry Junior
79 Jacob Watts Freshman
80 Kordarrius Coleman Senior
81 Colby McKinney Freshman
82 Jared Eddy Freshman
83 Tyler Kuhn Freshman
84 Bryce Wilcoxson Freshman
86 Jason Langston Junior
87 Bryson Nichols Freshman
88 Kade Martin Sophomore
89 Jerry Reese Sophomore