FOOTBALL POUNDERS HUNT HOME-FIELD IN PLAYOFFS

It’s been three years since the Central Pounders football team welcomed fans in for a first-round playoff game. In 2018, the Pounders fell to visiting Sullivan South, 39-12, after finishing the regular season with a 5-6 record. Ironically, those same two teams faced off the previous year with Pounders coming out on top of a 45-42 score. After the Pounders defeated the Rebels, they fell the next week to state power Greenville, 49-12. That year, the Pounders wound up with a 7-5 showing- their lone winning season in four years.

Pounders coaches, players, and fans all hope that the newly shuffled region classifications will prevent an early exit this year. Already having clinched a winning record, the Pounders’ goal is not only to host a playoff game, but to win it.

“Our goal right now is to finish the season with two wins and gain momentum for a long playoff run,” Head Football Coach Curt Jones said.

After a senior night tune-up against visiting East Ridge on Oct. 22, the Pounders will have a week off before hosting the first-round playoff game. Seniors will be recognized prior to kickoff at 7:30 p.m.

This season, the Pounders knocked off region opponents Soddy Daisy, Hixson, and Red Bank in consecutive order. That historic win streak unfortunately came to a grinding stop last week when the Pounders traveled to East Hamilton and came away with a 44-27 loss. Heading into the bout with the ‘Canes, the Pounders were in first place in the region, but that loss knocked Central out of the number one spot, and into second.

As it sits now, the Pounders will most likely host the Macon County Tigers or the Stone Memorial Panthers here at Central War Memorial Stadium on November 5.

“When you get to the playoffs, everybody is solid… we’ve got to be prepared for whoever we play,” Coach Jones continued.

CURTAIN FALLS ON VOLLEYBALL CAMPAIGN

The Lady Pounders wrapped up their regular season schedule on September 28 with a 4-6 record. That earned them the fourth seed in the district tournament and a first round matchup with the fifth seed East Ridge Lady Pioneers. The Lady Pounders made quick work of the Lady Pioneers and moved on to face the perennial powerhouse East Hamilton Lady Hurricanes (24-5 regular season, no. 1 seed in tournament). Despite Central’s momentum, they lost to East Hamilton 3-0, marking the end of the 2021 campaign.

This was the final game for Addi Wellington, Carmen Breitenbach, Mikiah Tate, and Makayla McCarthy, who are seniors playing their final season.

GIRLS SOCCER IMPROVES

This season, the Lady Pounders finished up with a record of 2-7 after going 1-7 in 2020.

“I think as the season progressed, the team did a better job at playing together. We are graduating four core players, but we have a lot to look forward to next year with our sophomores like Emily Colunga and Hannah Taylor,” shared Head Coach Trevor Brittingham.

Seniors Janetth Colunga, Karleigh Schwarzl, Ashlyn Wood, and Melissa Barros wrapped up their soccer careers and will graduate in May.