Published: September 19, 2008 01:12 am      

Dominant defense fueling undefeated Central’s early-season success

RICHMOND — The statistics are simply stunning — even to a veteran high school football coach like Madison Central’s Kenny Turner.

“They are awesome, aren’t they?” the coach said Thursday of his team’s defense.

Awesome, indeed.

Through the first three games of the season, the Indian defense has been nothing less than spectacular. They’ve recorded three straight shutouts, which is impressive enough, but they’ve also forced 13 turnovers and given up a total of just 44 yards in a trio of lopsided victories.

Central (3-0) is one of just three teams in the state to have not allowed a point so far this season (and the only 6A team) and will look to continue that streak today against long-time rival, Tates Creek (1-2).

Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. in Lexington.

“Last year, coach (Velmar) Miller and his defensive staff put it (the 3-4 defense) and it was in the infancy stage,” Turner said. “We just know it so well now. The kids know it so well. We’ve just got some many athletes on the field. It’s what works best for us. It’s the best thing we’ve done defensively in the past couple of years.”

The switch to a 3-4 defense certainly has paid dividends.

Last week, the Indians allowed just 157 total yards in a 25-0 win on the road over Oldham County. They forced four turnovers and stopped the Colonels on a fourth-and-goal early in the third quarter.

“They just keep playing and we’ve caused turnovers at very critical points,” Turner said of the Central defense. “It’s just worked out for us.”

Isaiah Kavanaugh had two touchdown runs and Dre’ Goggins caught a 37-yard TD pass from quarterback Zac Coldiron as the Indians improved to 3-0 for the second-straight year.

Central’s early-season success certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed.

The Indians are ranked fourth in this week’s The Associated Press 6A Poll and received one first-place vote.

“We are just trying to make sure we have everything in place, hopefully, before we start district play,” Turner said. “We seem to be on track.”

Tates Creek and Indians have met on a yearly basis for more than a decade, but this meeting might be much different than those in recent years.

In its first season under Mike Harmon, the traditionally run-oriented Com-modores have looked to pass the ball more, with mixed results. They rolled to a 34-13 win over Lincoln County two weeks ago, but have scored just three touchdowns in a pair of losses — at home to Campbell County and Clark County.

“They are more balanced, which isn’t good for anyone who plays them because I’ve always felt like they had some athletes and now they are unleashing them,” Turner said. “Once they get coach Harmon’s system down, they are going to be very dangerous.”

The Commodores have a pair of 100-yard rushers, Rozell James and Jontez Jones, and also have gotten solid performances from quarterback Chris Kemplin — 33-of-68 for 414 yards and three touchdowns. Jordan Hagan leads a deep group of receivers with seven catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

“I just wouldn’t want to play them later on,” Turner said of Tates Creek. “If you are going to play them, play them early. They just get better.”

Central won last year’s meeting, 27-21, in Richmond.