Centreville — Centreville Academy is steadily trying to improve after multiple turnovers occurred during last week’s jamboree.

Assistant coach Brian Stutzman said he expected those mistakes early in the season, but their game against defending MAIS AA state champions Brookhaven Academy Friday will make no room for error.

In their jamboree against Oak Forest and Parklane Academy, Stutzman said things must tighten up if they want to move forward. Centreville beat Oak Forest 7-0 and ended the Parklane game in a draw.

“We had a lot of turnovers that we have to cut down on,” Stutzman said. “We also blew a lot of responsibility defensively as far as containment goes.”

Stutzman said he would like to see quarterback Casey Haygood take more of an initiative as the season continues.

“Offensively, Haygood really needs to step up, he missed several receivers last week,” he said. “He needs to have a good game for us.”

Haygood is not the only offensive player that Stutzman is hoping will contribute more in the weeks to come.

The Tigers must become more familiar with their positions and roles, Stutzman said.

“We had a lot of blown assignments on offense with not knowing whom to block,” he said. “But it was things we expected in the first game.”

But overall, Stutzman said he saw some good qualities in the Tigers’ play that showed promise.

“We played hard and with a lot of intensity,” he said. “We made a lot of big plays and our conditioning is good.”

Though Centreville failed to score against Parklane, Stutzman said their defense tightened up the more they played.

In regards to Brookhaven, Stutzman said he needs his team to play tight defense from the jump as they are preparing to play against a good team in their season opener.

He said the Tigers must prepare for Brookhaven’s offensive strength, and he looks to linebacker Brandon Arnett to step up and make his mark.

“(Brookhaven) runs the ball a little more than they did last year,” Stutzman said. “They got a good running back in Landon Nettles and good quarterbacks that rotate in. They’re a well-balanced team.”

Stutzman said the Tigers are looking forward to going head-to-head with Brookhaven, and he hopes to see some improvements in the game.

“We’ll just continue to play hard and hopefully some good things will happen,” he said.

Centreville Academy will play Brookhaven Academy at home at 7 p.m. Friday.