Football: Central-Ballard stars on display

Central football coach Ty Scroggins will be back on the sideline when the Yellowjackets visit Ballard at 7:30p.m. Friday in a game that matches two of the area's best college prospects: junior running back Anthony Wales of Central and senior wide receiver DeVante Parker of Ballard.

Central football player Anthony Wales. (By Kylene Lloyd, The Courier-Journal) July 27, 2010

Scroggins missed Central's first two games, against Seneca and Lafayette, because of an abscess behind his tonsils. So he said he "feels like a rookie," although he coached the Yellowjackets to Class 3-A championships in 2007 and 2008 and a semifinal berth last fall.

"I'm not 100 percent, but I'm well enough to be on the sidelines," Scroggins said. "I'm excited."

Ballard (1-1) is coming off a 35-34 loss to defending 6-A champion St. Xavier last week and also plays in 6-A, but Central is used to going up against bigger schools.

The Yellowjackets (1-1) edged Lafayette 25-19 in Lexington last week, thanks to a goal-line stand in the closing moments, and both of its games were against 6-A teams. Central lost its opener to Seneca 47-32.

"Ballard probably is the best public-school team in Jefferson County," Scroggins said. "They have great speed on defense. They fly to the football, not just one, but it's all 11 players. This will be a good test for us."

It won't be the last time Central will challenge a 6-A team this year.

"We have Male, Manual, then St.X (and later on Pleasure Ridge Park)," Scroggins said. "If we get through those games without injuries, we'll be ready for our district games."

Last year Central edged Ballard 32-29. It went 2-5 against 6-A teams, then finished strong for an 8-6 record, losing to eventual 3-A champion Paducah Tilghman 24-21 in the semifinals.

Wales has rushed for 497 yards and six touchdowns on 43 carries this season. The University of Kentucky and University of Louisville have shown interest in him.

"You can't ask for anything more from a junior," Scroggins said. "People underestimate his speed. He runs fast enough to score."

"He is a weapon," Ballard coach Mike Jackson said. "He's slippery. He won't stand still and let you get a shot at him, but they have other weapons, too. Their receiver (sophomore Devonte Yelder) is really impressive, and their quarterback (junior Tajh Milliken) can get him the ball."

Ballard, which whipped PRP 59-7 in its opener, has a gifted receiver in the 6-foot-4 Parker, who has committed to UofL. He has caught 14 passes for 316 yards and three TDs this season.

"Parker plays his height," Scroggins said. "He has a nose for the ball, and he can jump. ... Ballard has a ton of athletes and a lot of experience."

Central starts one senior on offense and has 10 seniors on the squad.

"We're very young," Scroggins said. "We can't turn the ball over against Ballard. We must put some yards together on the ground and make sure we contain Parker."

CENTRAL AT BALLARD

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday. Records: Central 1-1, Ballard 1-1. Jody Demling's pick: Ballard 35, Central 21.