Black Knights Hope to Regain Playoff Form

After a 4-6 campaign, coach Todd Wofford hopes his second season at is one that can land his squad as one of the four playoff teams from region 8-AAAAA. But in a region with the defending state champs Brookwood Broncos and perennial powers like Parkview, South Gwinnett and Grayson, he knows the goal is not an easy one.

"It was rough at times (last year) but I had bigger issues in the back of my mind. We played a lot of young kids that are back," said Wofford. "We wanted to win but at the same time we were putting in our system both offense and defense all the way up to game ten."

Wofford implemented a spread offense after the Black Knights had run a wing-T offense for many years before he arrived. On Defense the Knights also changed from a 4-4 to a 3-4. "That (the changes) takes some time and I came in late myself," Wofford said. "The kids we have coming back (this year), we are much farther along than last year. They know what to do rather than have to think of what you have to do."

Central returns many of its main weapons from a year ago including the number two passer in the county in junior E-man Westmoreland. Westmoreland was second behind Collins Hill quarterback Taylor Heineke. Westmoreland threw for 2,737 connecting on 62% of his passes while throwing for 28 touchdowns. "Emanuel did a lot of good things as a sophomore," Wofford said. "He's a real heady kid. Smart kid. Generally the second year you run this stuff as a quarterback you improve. He just has to cut down on his interceptions because he did good at everything else. The yardage and touchdowns were high just the interceptions were too high. Again I account that to being a sophomore out there. It was first time for him at quarterback,(and like on the movie) Friday night lights (he could very easily been nervous) but I think he'll be better. He's more comfortable in the system and everybody is more comfortable with him."

Players on offense that return include Gwinnett County leading receiver George Morris, who led the county with 56 receptions tied with former Black Knight Ozzie Exume, who graduated. Morris finished with 56 receptions for 658 yards and eight touchdowns. He rushed 145 for 706 yards and five more touchdowns. "He got better as the season went along," said Wofford. "As crazy as it sounds he was a noseguard. It didn't make a lot of sense to me. But he got better as a runningback."

In addition, leading tackler, linebacker Trey Johnson, who will be just a junior as well, returns. Johnson had 152 tackles, 21 1/2 Tackles for losses and 7 1/2 sacks. Along with Johnson, the Black Knights return Aaron Taylor, who had 91 tackles and one interception from his safety position. Also junior J.B. Ezell returns with 78 tackles and 2 sacks last season. So with those anchors the defense should be much improved.

"We only had five kids on that team last that played varsity football," said Wofford. "So a lot of those kids were on defense (that never played). We took our lumps last year with it. We have our top three tacklers back and two of them were sophomores. "Those guys learned on the fly last year in 5-A," Wofford said. "That experience was good for them. Every body will recognize the offense in some way because it will be a little different but the defense will be like night and day. We're still young over there but I think that experience will pay off in the long run."

Some more kids that Wofford will count on is Georgia Tech commit Fallon Prince who came to Central from London and 330-pound sophomore Eric Kromah. Prince had almost a dozen scholarship offers from division-I schools but chose Tech.

"I love the competition we will get in this region," Wofford said. "I tell all the college coaches that come by here that this is the SEC of 5-A football in Georgia which is one of the top three football states in the country. I wouldn't have it any other way. I think it will be a much improved region. Even last year's team in 5-A in a different region would have made the playoffs but this region is so tough. Being good is not good enough. You have to be exceptional. If you can win in this region I think you'll be recognized as a contending team."

His quarterback has lofty goals too. "We have a lot of weapons back and we should be much better," Westmoreland said. "Our defense is going to be much better and no reason we can't make it to at least the second round of the playoffs."

Central gets under way August 26th versus Mountain View but Wofford also says that the other teams on the nonregion schedule are tough and should help prepare them for the region schedule. Central also will play the oldest rivalry in the county, South Gwinnett at the Georgia Dome on Saturday September 17th. "They are calling that rivalry weekend," Wofford said. "When they came to me and asked if I wanted to do this I jumped on it. It's a big game because Central has never played in the Dome and South has never played in the Dome and that gives us both extra motivation."