Pre-season Power Poll #6
#6 –
Head Coach: Chris Mahand [3rd Year]
2007 Record: 14-1 [Lost to Sweet Water in State Championship]
Key Dates in ’08 – Ranburne – Week 1, Wadley – Week 4, Munford – Week 5, Loachapoka – Week 9, Childersburg – Week 10
Star to Watch - Dion Duncan – Senior – Quarterback
After a devastating loss to Sweet Water in the state championship game in 2007, the Talladega County Central Tigers kept their head held high…for good reason.
Their 14 wins earned the school it’s only berth into a state final on the gridiron and gave the team 23 wins over a two year period, their most successful run in history. But just as things are looking up, third year head coach Chris Mahand and his Tigers must fill some major gaps if they want to continue this upward trend.
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T.C.C loses playmakers on both sides of the ball. Robert Reynolds, a 1,700 yard rusher in 2007, graduated, as did leading tackler Reggie Virges. Both players were 1st Team All-State selections last season.
Aside from Virges, the Tigers also lose a lot of production from another graduated linebacker Thomas Cochran. Virges and Cochran led a T.C defense that pitched seven shutouts and gave up 10 points or less in 10 of their 15 contests.
Now for the good news.
Mahand does have a capable starter at one of the most important spots on the field, quarterback. Back for his third straight season as the starter under center is Dion Duncan. The rangy athlete posted some pretty good numbers in 2007 and only expects to make more of them in ’08.
On top of the performance by
They’ll need to be with the move down south.
Competing in the southern part of the state, they’ll have to battle the likes of Sweet Water, Brantley and Wadley in order to advance in the post-season. In fact, they’ll have to get past the Wadley Bulldogs in region play.
2008 Schedule:
8/29 – Ranburne [A]
9/5 – Donoho [H]
9/12 – Winterboro [A]
9/19 – Wadley [H]
9/26 – Munford [H]
10/3 – Notasulga [A]
10/10 – Verbena [H]
10/17 –
10/24 – Loachapoka [A]
10/31 – Childersburg [H]
