After a week off, first-year Central Holmes coach Mitch Womack hopes his team is ready for the Winona Christian Stars.
The Stars will roll into Lexington with a 2-0 record, fresh off a 22-14 last-second win over Winston Academy last week. Meanwhile the Trojans are 0-2 on the season and coming off a rain-soaked loss to East Rankin.
Womack said the game plan in the off week was a simple one.
“We worked on us last week,” Womack said.”We were physical with them on Monday and Tuesday and challenged the kids. We worked on being more physical and just being a tougher football team. We worked on the things we are struggling on. Then we lifted on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and hopefully gave some guys who were banged up time to be healthy. Some responded really well to it and some still have some growing up to do. I think as young as we are, everybody is going to get better as the year goes on.”
While the Trojans were off last week, it did give Womack and his staff time to scout the Stars in person.
“They are a very good football team,” Womack said. “They are sound, athletic and physical. They are who we expected them to be and they lived up to the billing. The quarterback spins it really well and they have two good running backs who run it well. They run downhill on defense and get after you on that side of the football. Coach (Junior) Graham does a great job with them.”
Womack said after two struggling losses, he hopes to see a different mentality on Friday night.
“I think the toughest challenge is this is a big rivalry game,” Womack said. “Our kids know their kids and it’s a big district game. I think we are excited to be playing again after a week off. Our kids have been practicing hard. We are trying to put some things together and get some confidence.”
As for the Stars, who are the defending District 2-3A champions, they aren’t overlooking the Trojans.
“They have some really good players, some scary players,” Graham said. “They have adequate size and length. I don’t think they have really found their identity yet. They have had a week off and will have had two weeks going into our game. I expect a typical Winona and Central Hinds football game. The last time we played there, we had to score late to win. They never quit. I’m expecting a tough game.”
Last year, the Stars won 53-19 en route to a District 2-3A championship.
