While the Central Square football team is coming off a tough season-opening loss to Auburn last Friday night, the Redhawks will admit they learned a valuable lesson. 

“We can't crumble and start when things start going wrong," senior Maurice Waldron said. "We've just got to build ourselves back up better. And I think Friday is going to be a good test of that and see what we learned in practice this week." 

They’re led by a strong group of seniors — with nearly a dozen leading them this fall — a group that has come up through the youth levels to varsity. 

“Coming back from modified football, our freshman year, we had a little break from COVID," senior Bradon Wolfe said. "We all came back bigger, faster, stronger. And from there we just kind of bent upward, you know what I mean? We were just that much tighter, that much closer. We've been able to cherish the time with each other and the blink of an eye we're already here in our senior season.” 

Central Square will rely on those strong bonds forged by their senior class as they search for their first win under head coach Jeff Ryan on homecoming weekend in front of a TV audience. 

“Getting that first win, especially on homecoming, the environment's great," Wolfe said. "All the work we've put in leads up to now. Going out there and putting on a show for the community, you know, they're very supportive. I mean, the stands are absolutely packed. So having a first win and a homecoming win is two birds, one stone right there.” 

“The whole team, we've been here before," senior Anthony Miga added. "It's not our first homecoming. Our first game where there's a lot of people watching us. And I guess we just just kind of kind of got a lock in before the game and get ready and not give in to all the distractions.” 

A win would go a long way to building confidence. Central Square believes it will be a team to beat in Class A this fall. 

“We're getting there," Waldron said. "I think towards the end of the season, I think we're probably going to be the one of the most well-rounded teams in Class A, if not the best well-rounded team.” 

"I know this is a type of team where throughout the season you get better," Wolfe added. "We have all the athletes, we have all the tools. It's whether or not we're utilizing them, you know what I mean? Some of us that are gaining the discipline to make the right play well develop that throughout the season, every single one of us. But to finish off senior season with a sectional title, you know, you can't forget that. So that's what our eyes are set on.”