Central football using summer to gain experience after losing 25 seniors

           Pageland – Having lost a graduating class of 25 from last year’s 11-2 football team that played for the AA lower state championship, Central High School could have used a long spring practice to get ready for the 2026 season. That did not happen because of the success of some spring sports.

           “We weren't able to have a full spring because of the success that our baseball and track (and field) programs had, but we were able to get our basic install in,” said head coach Jonathan Eason, who recently became the school’s athletic director as well. “Our biggest goal is to find out who is going to step up. We graduated 25 seniors last year, so we are going to be a team without a ton of returning starters. 

“I feel like we still have a ton of talent, but we have to get everyone on the same page mentally. The step from JV (junior varsity) to varsity is a big one, so this summer has been huge in helping us make that jump.”

           The Eagles have been busy over the summer playing in several 7-on-7 competitions. They played in an event at the University of South Carolina, Cheraw and Anson (North Carolina) and will participate in events at Darlington and Piedmont (N.C.) in July. When scrimmages are allowed, they will play at Anson on August 7 and will take on Forest Hills (N.C.) in the Steve Taneyhill Jamboree at Chesterfield on August 14.

           Central has just four starters returning on offense, but one of them is rising senior quarterback Dwayne Louallen.

           “Dwayne Louallen is the centerpiece of our offense at QB and is a 3-year varsity starter,” Eason said.

           Last season, Louallen completed 102 of 166 passes for 1,665 yards and 17 touchdowns against just four interceptions. He is also the Eagles’ top returning rusher after picking up 697 yards and 11 touchdowns on 106 carries. He had three 100-yard games.

           The other returning starters are senior wide receiver/tight end Cody Branham, senior wide receiver Darin Gaines and senior left tackle Brandon Streater.

           “They are all experienced starters that have played in a lot of big games over the last two seasons,” Eason said.

           Senior Marzavious Allen will be the featured running back this year. He is one of five returning starters on defense at outside linebacker along with senior outside linebacker Aidan Welch, sophomore middle linebacker Jaylen Davis, senior defensive end Timmy Tyson and junior defensive tackle Tahir Wise. 

           MIDDLETON PLEASED WITH PROGRESS OF SOFTBALL TEAM

           After getting off to an 8-8 start, the Central softball team finished with just a 9-18 record. However, head coach D.J. Middleton was looking at more than wins and losses.

           “The scoreboard didn’t always tell the whole story,” said Middleton, who was in his first year as head coach after assisting his father, Steve Middleton, for a few years. “We showed flashes of the team we’re becoming, and now the challenge is turning those flashes into our standard. We competed with teams people counted us out against and we learned hard lessons in games we expected to win. That’s part of building something that lasts. The foundation stronger today than it’s ever been.”

           The Eagles went 0-2 in their district tournament in the state playoffs, but they had two solid performances. CHS lost to then defending state champion East Clarendon 12-5 in the opening game before falling to Woodland 5-0.

           Junior centerfielder Ashariya Myers was the team’s lone All-Region 5 selection. She finished with a .246 batting average and an on-base percentage of .315 to go with one double, one home run, 14 stolen bases, eight runs batted in and 17 runs scored,