Aiden Taylor delivers a pass for Harnett Central on Wednesday morning.

When Cory Barnes moved from coaching football at Midway to Harnett Central, he did so knowing that the Trojans had significant tradition despite going 2-7 overall last season and 2-5 in the All American Conference.

Barnes is working to restructure the offense and put a coaching staff together as the season opener approaches on August 19 at home against West Johnston.

“I graduated from Triton,” Barnes said after hosting 7-on-7 scrimmages with Triton and Panther Creek on Wednesday. “I was a player, when Rodney Cox and that crowd was (at Central). Brian Taylor was a freshman. I remember those teams. And those same type of kids are there, but the biggest thing is tp get them bought into the weight room, because we’ve got skill kids right now who look skinny.

“We’ve got some linemen who look pretty thick, but the skill kids look kind of skinny. So the whole program’s got to be bought in on the weight room. I think we’re going to hopefully shock some people at a certain point. And at the same time we’re going have our growing pains too, because it’s a different foundation, different program, trying to get kids in a different place.”

When Taylor was a senior in 2009, the Trojans were 15-0 before falling in the NCHSAA 4-A final, 14-13, to Asheville Reynolds at Carter-Finley Stadiun in Raleigh.

“Central is the only school in Harnett County that has come close (to a state championship),” Barnes said.

The Trojans are learning an offense that produced 2,697 passing yards and 1,636 rushing yards at Midway last season.

“They’ve been more of a triple option attack,” Barnes said.

Central will spread defenses with its passing game and run as zone reads and counters look productive. Senior Tay’Shawn Moore ran for 919 yards and six touchdowns in 2021.

The sessions Wednesday allowed the Trojans to work on timing and new terminology. Junior Aiden Taylor was throwing the ball around the practice field to a variety of routes. He didn’t go to James Kenan last week. Taylor passed for 1,081 yards and seven TDs last season.

“It was good to have some competition,” Barnes said. “First time Aiden saw competition this summer at quarterback, so it was good for him to see it and get used to the speed of it and the new things we’re asking him to do.

“We started off slow early, kind of got a little energy later on, which I like, seeing them compete. But we got to know how to contain our energy and play smart and be smart all the way around. But they did some good things, and then obviously they did some things that we’ve got to fix. That comes through reps and practice.”

Barnes is thinking in terms of when, not if the Trojans will return to prominence.

“We’re going to get there,” he said. “It’s not instant grits. It’s not something that’s flipped in one day. It takes time and it takes reps for these kids just learning what we’re doing and getting more coaches in here to make sure they’re coached up — and giving them structure to be successful.”

Harnett Central coach Cory Barnes signals during a 7-on-7 with Panther Creek.

Quan Dixon makes a reception for host Harnett Central in a 7-on-7.

Freshman D.J. Brown had some bounce in his step after picking off a Panther Creekj pass.