THOMASVILLE —
Thomas County Central hasn’t forgotten.
Even almost a year later, the Yellow Jackets can’t erase the painful memories of a 13-9 defeat to cross-town rival Thomasville.
“Last year hurt pretty hard,” said Central senior defensive end Ray Drew, whose team will travel to Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday to play Thomasville. “This year, it’s going to hurt even more so if it were to be a repeat, which we’re working for it not to be. With this being our senior year, it’ll be the last chance we get to play against them, so we’re going to make the best out of it.”
Central responded from last year’s disappointing loss to win 11 straight before losing in the third round of the Class AAAA playoffs. The Yellow Jackets have had all summer to think about Friday’s season opener.
“We don’t have to worry about motivating them, getting them up, getting them excited,” Central defensive coordinator Cliff Heard said. “They’ve been excited about this game since the last one ended. That’s left a bitter taste in their mouth for a year.”
Last year’s loss to Thomasville was the first for Central since 2000, following seven straight wins against the Bulldogs. The Yellow Jackets are hoping to avoid their first two-game losing streak to the Bulldogs since the 1991-92 seasons.
“They want to beat Thomasville,” Heard added. “They had to live with getting ragged all over this town, all over this community a whole year about them ’Dogs beating them. We don’t want to hear about that anymore. need to get rid of that taste and move on.”
The game will be of special importance for 22 Central seniors, who are preparing for their final clash with the Bulldogs, including Eric Dodson and Eric McCraw.
“(Last year) hurt a lot, especially being the quarterback at Thomas County Central,” Dodson said, “you always want to win that one. I want to go out my senior year with a ‘W’.”
McCraw added, “We’re just trying to get ready for them, get ready to play them and return the favor what they did last year.”
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Related Photos
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Thomas County Central’s Nick Johnson (92), Julius Reese (85), Ray Drew (blue shirt) and Zack Davison run through an agility drill during Wednesday’s practice. Clint Thompson
Last year’s loss to ’Dogs motivating Jackets
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