Ron Seibel: Howard, Central show signs of progress
Three years ago, a Howard-Central football game would not have been worth watching.
Both teams were in the doldrums. Central was on its third head coach in three years, while Howard was in the midst of a second straight 0-10 season. Of the 18 losses between the two teams, just about all of them were of the lopsided variety.
Fortunately for both teams, things have changed considerably since then. Now under stable leadership -- Jesse Hicks at Central, Barney Hester at Howard -- both teams have seen considerable improvement. The postseason, something that once loomed far off in the distance, is a very real possibility this year for both programs.
When they meet Friday at the Ed DeFore Sports Complex, both teams will bring in undefeated records. Howard sits at 2-0 with wins over Lamar County and FPD, while Central shut out Wilkinson County in its Aug. 27 opener.
“Just the changes in the school, a lot of kids are excited about football around here, and it has changed and galvanized the thought processes, ” Hicks said. “Coach has done a real good job at Howard, and kudos to him for what they’re doing. I think it’s going to be a clash of two good teams that are on the uprise here in Macon, Georgia, and that’s always a good thing.”
This isn’t a region game, so what happens between Howard and Central won’t have a direct effect on playoff positioning. But whichever team prevails will have earned a victory over a solid football team.
Howard and Central? Solid football teams? Believe it.
The programs Hicks and Hester run are fundamentally sound and carry the test of time. Hicks enjoyed a long run of success at Baldwin for nearly a decade, while Hester built a GISA powerhouse at Tattnall Square. They know what they’re doing, and they have the coaching staffs to implement their plans.
Both Hicks and Hester struggled early with their current programs. Hicks won just three games in his first two seasons at Central, while Hester had just two wins in his first year at Howard.
Things began to click for both last year. Howard went 3-6-1, topping the program’s previous best record by a half-game. Central went 5-6, returning to the playoffs for the first time in six years.
With several skill position players back and strong defensive lines on both sides, this will be an entertaining game. Central’s passing game will be a test for Howard’s defense after FPD enjoyed some success through the air in the first half a week ago, and Central will face a much stronger opponent than it did in its opener.
“We’re very similar football teams,” Hester said. “Offensively and defensively, the schemes we use are very similar. I think our quarterback does a good job extending plays, throwing the football, and we have some good receivers that get open. Our line of scrimmage is getting better each week. Our defensive line is pretty good, their defensive line is real good, and their linebackers are good. It’s two similar football teams.”
This game might not rise to the quality level of what Middle Georgia’s Class AAAAA powerhouses will put on the field when they meet later this season, but Central and Howard will put forth a respectable show. These teams are headed in the right direction, and this game should provide a prime example of how these programs have grown.
Contact Ron Seibel at 744-4222 or rseibel@macon.com.
This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 7:27 PM with the headline "Ron Seibel: Howard, Central show signs of progress ."