Central Tangles With River Ridge

With its playoff hopes officially dashed thanks to three straight tough district losses, Central High travels to River Ridge today to for a 7:30 p.m. contest that will complete its Class 4A, District 8 slate.

"We're looking forward to getting back out there Friday night," Central Head Coach Cliff Lohrey said. "We'd like to finish up strong in district play and see if we can get a 'W' on the road.

"I think you're down whenever you have high expectations and your goal is to win the district and get into postseason play (and you don't make it). They're down, but not out. We're looking forward to going out, playing for each other and playing for Bear pride."

Unfortunately from the Bears' point of view, the only meaning this one has is avoiding the indignity of finishing in the district cellar.

Central (3-5 overall, 1-3 4A-8) has been out-scored 131-20 over its past three games by district heavyweights Springstead, Land O' Lakes and Tarpon Springs.

The Royal Knights (1-7 overall, 1-3 4A-8) are supposedly the district lightweight, yet they pack a stronger than expected punch. Just ask Springstead, stunned 31-14 by River Ridge last month.

"There's no question they've made a marked improvement," Lohrey said. "I think it's easy for a player (to not see it). All they see is the end result. As a coach, I think you see the continuous improvement. They've either been in every game all the way till the end or worst case in it till the half.

"They play well on defense. They get to the football with a lot of hustle and then offensively, they have the ability to throw the ball but they like to run the ball. That lends itself to playing good defense and shortening the ball game."

Despite the disappointing results to this point, Lohrey said he would like to see leadership out of his veterans and continued desire and improvement out of his younger players.

"We have to not turn the ball over offensively," Lohrey said. "We've got to finish blocks, finish runs and then defensively we've got to cause some three-and-outs I think.

"We've got to counter the ball control tactic they try to utilize, see if we can force some three-and-outs and get the ball in the hands of our offense."