As the opening scrimmage Aug. 23 ended with a 9-0 victory against Jacksonville, the football team celebrated on their home turf for the first time in two years. As construction on the field finished up, the team used the full 100-yard field including end zones instead of the limited 60 yards previously available for practice. When construction began in April 2022, football and soccer teams relocated to Scott Field or J.A Fair, for games. 

Julian Morgan, the new defensive line coach, joined the coaching staff in July and worked with the team throughout the summer. Morgan said he pushed for tenacity and increased effort from the players, which he hopes carries into the season.

“When you get into the trenches in football, on the offensive and defensive line, you need …  players that are gonna work hard and give you their best effort at all times,” Morgan said.

Morgan said he worked with senior players to inspire pride in the team. As a former high school player himself, he understands the importance of leadership for success of a team.  

“The kids are on fire for the new adventures they’re going on,” Morgan said. “I think watching kids like Colin [Sproles], Paxton [Clegg], and Marvin [Allen], they have this thing of culture here, where they have these chants, man. They literally break down the Alma Mater to the point where all the students and all the players know it.”

Senior quarterback Clegg has dedicated himself to lead the team to victory.

“I try to get my teammates to follow along, to perfect the little things, and everything else will follow,’ Clegg said. “It’s been a while since we’ve won a real varsity game, and our senior year is the time to change that narrative.”

So far their methods have worked. Clegg said the pace at practice has picked up, allowing them to run more smoothly as the team returns to their home field.

Senior Kaleb Fleming, who scored the first touchdown of the season, credits the win to his relationship with his teammates.

Not only are the football players excited to be back at Quigley, but sideline athletes are as well. Senior Jade Gollat returns for her last year in high school to the dance team, after an absence in her junior year.

“Dancing at another school [J.A. Fair], it always felt like an away game and like I couldn’t truly be there for Central,” Gollat said. “So I think this year we’ll get the best experience of the student section, just because we’ve seen what it’s like to be at [our] school and what it’s like to be off. Everyone’s gonna be excited to be back on the field.”