Rooklidge optimistic heading into his second year leading Centralia

The 2023 season was one full of growing pains for the Centralia football team.

On the surface, the 1-8 record doesn’t indicate much, but a deeper dig shows a team that improved from Week 1, an OT loss to Elma, through Week 9, a loss to W.F. West in the Swamp Cup.

Centralia coach Jon Rooklidge came into the beginning of fall camp hopeful that that progress would carry over into this fall, and after just a couple of practices, he’s pleased with where the Tigers are at.

“We’re a year bigger, and we’re a year better,” Rooklidge said, commending his players for their work in the weight room this offseason. “We feel good about the direction of things … We feel like we made progress, and we feel like we’re gonna take strides again.”

Rooklidge isn’t the only Tiger with a year under his belt, as several contributors from last year’s squad are back in the mix.

Leading the offense once again are quarterback Terrell Sanders and running back Kellen Rooklidge, and they’ll be behind an offensive line led by David Daarud and a few newcomers that Rooklidge and his staff are excited to see in action.

“While some of them are coming out for the first time, we like everything about them,” Rooklidge said. “We like their physicality, and we like their speed.”

Roman Cando and Donovan Galloway are also back in the mix, as is Hudson Waterfield, who returns to the field after not playing last fall. Alika Vargas, who missed all of last season with an injury he suffered during the first week of practice, also returns.

“These are all guys that we all believe can play and do some things,” Rooklidge said.

Rooklidge also acknowledged that the development also applies to himself and his coaching staff.

This time last year, Rooklidge was leading the Tigers through his first practices as the head coach just two months after taking the job. This time around, with experience under his belt, Rooklidge feels more optimistic, not only about his practice plan, but the Tigers’ season as a whole.

“Things aren’t brand new,” Rooklidge said. “Routines are established. We’ve had a year to plan and prep and do those things. Our goal is to be better every day.”