[EKUAlum05]

Central is not adept at driving the field and moving the chains, but instead they struggle to sustain drives and live off big plays to put points on the board.

Is ^^^ a fair assessment of them offensively?

I am not sure..outside of the Corbin game Central hasn't really looked the best offensively.

Last week they had 6 total First Downs against South Warren and their points came from a fumble recovery, a big play for a TD, and another isolated big play to set up a FG.

Corbin made their passing game look All-World that 2nd Half, but I am not sold on Corbin defensively as it is. They gave up a lot of yards and points when they played their best competition all year.

What you get with Central is "Danger" and "Impact".

DANGER:
The thing you have to always respect with Central is on any play a 3 yard gain can turn into a 53 yard gain. Beason isn't a big back, but he runs hard and if he gets to the 2nd Level he is gone. Norfleet isn't on anyone's list of the top QB's in the State... but he has a big arm and is a gamer. The second you get lulled into thinking he is rattled or his accuracy is off BOOM perfectly thrown fly route for 6. The supporting players are "no name" players. There are no TayShaun Gibbs, no Stephon Robinson's.... but they are interchangeable and have the speed and athleticism to turn any broken coverage or blown assignment into a long score.

IMPACT:
This isn't your typical Central team who can line up in a Single Back or I-Formation and pound you to death until they run the stretch. This isn't even the Central team who will run the read option and neutralize you with the mid range passing game. This is the team who thrives off the big play on offense. I don't see a defense that stonewalls their opponent at the LOS, I don't see LB's who cover sideline to sideline making every play a gain of less than 4 yards... but when they need to dial up a QB Pressure or they need a key turnover they find it.

Central is the master of the Impact play that turns momentum 180 degrees. When you think you have them put away they get the big score to get back in the game. When you think you have them behind the chains suddenly they pop a 20 yard gain. When you think you are about to put a nail in the coffin they find a strip or TFL. Their special teams are special and every turnover is an opportunity to take it to the house.

I cannot urge how important it is for Belfry to set their tempo and limit self inflicted wounds. That fumbled pitch you get the good bounce on will bounce Central's way. That holding call behind the play may negate your only long run of the game. That False Start on 2nd and 6 will cause you to come 1 yard short when you go for it on 4th and 2 at the 35.

When I have seen Central in the past I saw some players who were the best Belfry had seen all year. I saw backs who were the fastest they had seen. I saw QB's who were more more lethal. I don't see that anywhere on the Central roster this time. With that said, this Central team is in my opinion a more complete team than some of the squads Belfry has seen before.