Tigers set for rematch with CPA

By Matt Burrowes | The Natchez Democrat

Published Friday, November 9, 2007

CENTREVILLE — The Centreville Tigers get set for round two against the Central Private Rebels tonight.

This time it will be in the first round of class AA playoffs and the loser’s season will come to the end. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

“This is a big challenge for us,” Central Private head coach Mike Longmire said. “We get a chance to prove we are better than the first meeting.”

In their first meeting in week four, Centreville gave the Rebels a 36-6 thumping. Central Private had six turnovers in the game.

Tiger running backs Nick Goudeau and Zach Sinclair combined for a total of 183 yards rushing and four touchdowns.

“Goudeau is one of the best backs in this area,” Longmire said. “Centreville is a very physical team.”

Centreville assistant coach Brian Stutzman said the Tigers were going to continue playing the physical style of football that got them to the playoffs.

“Centreville has always been about running the football,” Stutzman said. “We are going to do what we have to do to win.”

The Tigers are coming off a hard-fought 36-22 loss at the hands of Trinity last week.

“We were lucky to come out of there with nothing but our pride hurt,” Stutzman said. “We’ve had a good practices all week. We’ll see how they respond Friday night.”

The Rebels have gone 5-1 since losing to the Tigers. Their only loss was by a touchdown to Oak Forest.

“They still do the same things they’ve always done but they do them better now,” Stutzman said.

The Rebels have two premier rushers in running back Bobby Muse and quarterback Corey Santangelo.

Muse has rushed for over 1,000 yards and Santangelo has come on late in the season to give Central Private another option.

“We feel like our strength is our offensive line,” Longmire said. “We stand a good chance if we win on the line of scrimmage.”

Stutzman said the Tigers learned a good lesson in last week’s loss.

“The loss last week showed us that we better be ready to play,” Stutzman said. “Another game like that and the kids will be turning in their gear on Monday.”