Ethyn Muhammad breaks away on a scoring run for the Trojans.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)

First-year Harnett Central football coach Cory Barnes said he saw improvement when the Trojans scrimmaged Dougkas Byrd at Westover on Friday evening.

“We moved the ball a whole lot better,” said Barnes in comparison to a Wednesday session with South Johnston. “We moved some personnel around. Scrimmages are hard. We had no clue what Douglas Byrd was going to do so lining up defenisvely sometimes was an adjustment.

“But we saw some improvement. We moved the ball down the field a couple of times. I think the light bulb really came on with about 15 of 20 minutes to go in the scrimmage.”

Ethyn Muhammad had an 18-yard scoring run against Byrd, which tallied twice.

The Trojans were 2-7 overall and 2-5 in the All American Conference in 2021.

Central opens the season at West Johnston on Friday at 7 p.m. The Wildcats are coming off a 5-6 campaign that included a 3-4 tour of the Quad County 3-A Conference.

“We’ve got to be sound,” Barnes said. “We’ve got to control the football, score points, line up and be physical.

“We’ve got to be sound in our gaps defensively, make sure we’re lined up right in the secondary.”

Central works an RPO with quarterback Aiden Taylor and running back Tay’Shawn Moore.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)

Aiden Taylor goes to the air for Central against Douglas Byrd on Friday at Westover.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)

Coach Cory Barnes talks to the Trojans on Friday in the Cumberland jamboree.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)

Jaequan Plummer (2) looks for running room between Eagle defenders.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)J

Ny’Darius Griffin (51) and Zameir Hernandez (75) combine for a stop at the line of scrimmage.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)