McMinn Central looking for third straight playoff appearance

ENGLEWOOD, Tenn. (WDEF)- The McMinn Central Chargers are coming off of two consecutive playoffs, including a playoff victory last season.

Despite that success, they are looking to take the next step so they can go even deeper into November, and maybe beyond.

“Well, we’re excited. Especially after today, we got out here and competed the way we needed to compete”, said Chargers head coach Matt Moody.

Moody says the rebuild that has succeeded so far has come down to one big trait.

He said, “I think right now is leadership. We’ve had some really good senior classes the last couple of years that have really taken a lot of ownership of our program. We always talk about how the best teams we’ve ever been a part of are player led teams, and so the leadership has been there, and we’ve got a really great group of seniors again this year that have done a great job in the offseason of holding everybody accountable and being an example of how the guys in our program are supposed to work everyday and how you’re supposed to carry your business when you show up.”

The Chargers return an All-State Quarterback in Senior Ayden Plemmons.

He threw for over 3,000 yards and 31 touchdowns last season.

“He’s a completely different player at this time this year then he was last year. We felt like last year he grew a lot from week to week. It was his first year playing football as a quarterback, but now he really understands the offense and what they’re trying to do. You get out here in these 7s and 7s sometimes, and you know you throw the ball down the field a lot and take some shots, but he really understands what we try to do offensively”, said Moody.

However, Moody points out a strength that will enhance Plemmons’ production on the offensive side of the ball.

He said, “Our offensive line, where last year we were having to replace five guys, you know we had to find five new offensive linemen. This year four of our five starters are back, and one of the guys in that starting job right now has experience playing before.”

On the defense, Moody says the heart of the unit is in his linebacking core.

“Our linebacking core defensively really is kind of our group. Bradley Coffey has stepped up being the vocal leader and the guy thats just kinda, you hear about players being coaches on the field, that’s kind of the role he’s taken over and he’s done a great job so far,” said Moody.