By Loyd McIntosh, For The Tribune
CENTER POINT — The Center Point High School football team wrapped up spring workouts with high expectations following an unprecedented and unexpected fall campaign.
Center Point Head Coach George Bates gives instructions during the Eagles win over Oxford, Friday, October 21. (Photo by Ron Burkett)
The Eagles surprised the high school football world in 2022 going 9-2 — 9-1 in the regular season — and advancing to the second round of the Alabama High School Football Playoffs in their first season in 6A since 2017. During their run, Center Point defeated 6A Region 6 heavyweights Pinson Valley and Oxford, falling only to 2021 state champion Clay-Chalkville in September.
Center Point was the only team from the region to advance to the second round following unexpected first-round losses by Clay-Chalkville, Pinson Valley, and Oxford. The Eagles also featured one of the most dynamic backfields in high school football in 2022 with quarterback Jabari Collier and running back Troy Bruce carving up defenses all season long.
With Collier and Bruce heading into the college ranks, the 2023 edition of the Eagles is a work in progress. However, Center Point Head Football Coach George Bates isn’t ready to say who is going to step up at quarterback and running back just yet, spending the spring working on the fundamentals of the game.
“I’m old school, so we still call it ‘spring trainingOur whole goal is to be the best blocking, tackling, rushing, and receiving team that we can be,” said Bates. “We want to see who’s physical and who’s not. That’s what we hang our hat on in spring ball. We want to hit the fundamentals and see who can play football. We’ve got all summer to put guys in positions. Right now, we want to see who our real football players are.”
Bates acknowledges that there is no way to truly replace Bruce, one of the most talented and explosive rushers in school history and the running position in 2023 will be by committee. Bates also said the offensive line is young but possesses good size, but also stated that the Eagles’ defense should be much improved this fall.
“We’re really excited about the defense because our secondary is all veterans. They’re young still, most of them are going to be juniors but most of these guys started as sophomores,” said Bates. “The linebackers are led by our captain Malik Brown. He’s a senior and is our leader on defense.
Unfortunately, Center Point was unable to put what they’ve learned to the test in a game situation due to the cancellation of their spring game against Briarwood following the tragic death of Senior Pastor Harry Reader on Thursday, May 18.
In 2023, Bates more than anything wants the community to come out and support the Center Point High School football team. Bates doesn’t care if you’re a Johnny Come Lately, he just wants you to come and support the Eagles in 2023.
Since Center Point High School opened in 2011, moving from the old Erwin High School location just two miles away, Bates said many of the old Erwin faithful moved on. The new school is still trying to find its identity in the community and build a fanbase. Despite Bates’s success at Center Point – he has 40 wins, and 20 losses since taking over the program in 2018 – the Eagles struggle to pull a crowd on Friday nights.
Bates hopes that will change after one of the program’s most successful seasons in the toughest region in 6A. “Our kids deserve to have the stands full,” said Bates.
“This is some of the best times that Erwin and Center Point have ever seen, and we need people to come out and appreciate it and support these kids,” Bates added. “This is the time to jump on the bandwagon.”
The Eagles will open the 2023 season on the road as they travel to the Magnolia State to take on the Tylertown Chiefs on the campus of Southwest Mississippi Community College.
