By David Morrison | High School Sports Reporter
Published: October 2, 2009

This is a Central team with 30 seniors, a boatload of talent and basically an entire roster of high school athletes that pass “the look test.”

This is a senior class that did not taste defeat through middle school before tasting it more often than most observers would have imagined over the last three years at the varsity level.

This is a coach that, looking at his sidelines during preseason practice, knew he was onto something good.

“I sensed something special about this group,” Central coach Ron Nelson said. “We’ve just gotta finish it off.”

And these Red Devils have not disappointed.

Central has already surpassed its win total from last season and is off to its first 5-0 start since 2003.

The Red Devils have shown they can turn on the gas and torch a team, as they did in outscoring their first three opponents, 152-41.

They also showed they can hunker down and win dogfights, as they did in back-to-back nailbiters against Russell County and Stanhope Elmore.

“It’s motivated us to play harder in the fourth quarter,” said senior linebacker Montrel Crawford, who leads the team with 47 tackles. “Whoever wants it the most is gonna win.”

But this is also a Central team that hasn’t won against Friday’s opponent, Opelika, in the past four tries. It’s a Central team that hasn’t beaten the Bulldogs at Garrett-Harrison Stadium since 2001.

And this is an Opelika team that is coming off a win over the previously invincible Vigor Wolves, just two weeks after a surprising loss to previously eminently beatable Dothan.

“We have a lot more confidence than after the Dothan game,” Opelika senior offensive tackle Brian Thorne said. “We’re just ready to beat Central. Since they’re a region game, this game counts more than Vigor.”

What else is new for a Central-Opelika matchup?

When’s the last time neither team has gone into this game with at least a .500 record? Try 1979.

“How many times have we come in both undefeated, or both with good records?” Nelson said. “It’s gonna be one of those situations where the stadium’s full, lot of excitement, lot of fun.

“We’ve always had good ballgames with Opelika.”

This year’s shaping up to be no different, especially with two clubs that are so similar.

Both teams have spread offenses capable of putting up big numbers and built around star backs,

Central is rushing for 315 yards per game, with its big, experienced line paving the way for senior Deon Hill and his 6-foot, 190-pound frame.

“We have explosive running backs,” Central senior offensive lineman Ucambre Williams said. “The line just keeps on working their butt off, finishing every play.”

Opelika has an explosive back of its own — Corey Grant — pacing its attack, and welcomes back sophomore Cameron Hill from injury this week as a change-of-pace option.

“It’s hard to game plan against speed,” Nelson said. “We’ve got to get in a situation where we stop Corey before he gets started good. Because if he gets in that open field, there’s nobody that’s gonna catch him.”

For Central, Friday serves as a proving ground, a signature game that could serve as a portent of how far the Red Devils can go.

For Opelika, a loss all but eliminates any chance at a region title.

“We told them after the Dothan loss, ‘Our goals are still in front of us. We can win the region championship, we just have to win out,” Bulldogs coach Brian Blackmon said. “And this is part of it. We’re treating it as a must-win game.”