Pigskin Roundup: What are some memories of your playing
days at Centre?
Coty Blanchard: When I was in 8th grade Centre played in the
state title game against Pike County, so we knew it was possible
to win a championship. Cherokee County has always been known
for football and I watched great football players before me. My
class had 18 seniors and we were great friends. We had many
guys like Gabriel Chambers, D.J. Fife, Desmond Brown, and
Colin Perry that played college football.
Pigskin Roundup: Tell us about that 2009 state title team.
Coty Blanchard: We were 14-1 my junior year and only lost to
UMS-Wright in the title game. It is kind of overlooked, but we
went 29-1 in two years. Lots of teams only play 40 games in 4
years, we won 29 in just two. It started with the loss to UMS. We
didn’t like to lose. We felt like the only way that season was going
to be a success was winning a state championship. That summer
in passing camps we went something like 28-0. I think a big key
was leadership. Being a coach now I see that the players have to
hold each other accountable and we had that.
Pigskin Roundup:Who were some of the opposing players you
remember playing against?
Coty Blanchard: Dee Ford from St. Clair County who went on to
Auburn and the Kansas City Chiefs, Deion Belue from Deshler
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2017 Pigskin Roundup the Magazine | 15