Bobcats should be better in Lane’s second season
By Steve Williams
Central’s first challenge this season will be improving in the two quarters after halftime. There were slip-ups much of the time in that part of the game last year.
“We played 11 games last year and were in the lead at halftime or tied in seven of the 11 of them,” said Head Coach Kevin Lane. “We ended up losing some of them by just shooting ourselves in the foot, and the kids know that and what they have to do to finish games.”
The Bobcats’ second half play last year led to a 4-7 overall record. They qualified for the playoffs in Region 2-5A but bowed to Sevier County 35-12 in the first round. The Smoky Bears went on to capture the state championship.
Lane has most of his top players from last season back and expects to make the playoffs again.
“Yes, absolutely,” he said. “Our goal ultimately is to win the first game of the season with Dobyns-Bennett at home and then after that we will see what happens. But yes, I think the experience and the expectation in the standard is there and the kids know what they want to do and they know what it takes to get there.”
This is Lane’s second year as head coach at Central after being a long-time assistant coach. He said the strength of the team this season “will be our skill guys – our speed, experience and depth at all of those positions – secondary and outside receivers.”
The Bobcats return eight starters on offense and six on defense. Top players according to Coach Lane include junior quarterback Kaden Long and senior WR/DBs Javaston Badgett and Torin McAfee, plus returning inside linebacker Nicholai Brooks and Dashawn Wilson, who can play linebacker and on the defensive line.
Other team leaders include senior RB Jaedyn Harris and senior WR-DB JJ Smith.
“McAfee will probably play more defense, but will spot us on offense,” said Lane.
“Bryce Johnston (slot receiver) is a senior and will play a ton for us. He got injured a couple of times last year, so I held him back a little bit.
“Offensive line wise we’ve got three returning starters,” added Lane. “Last year we were a little undersized and we’re still a little undersize now, but we’ve added some kids who are going to be sophomores and young freshmen that have come in and really grown up. That will help us with depth and size.”
“Defensively, we should be much improved,” pointed out Lane. “I mean we were good on defense last year. I just think the kids will understand more what we are doing this year.”
Coach Lane said he will have to replace both safeties, but there is plenty of depth “that’s going to help us out.”
