By Andy Walter

GEORGETOWN — Sussex Central High’s football program has had its share of good seasons.

But no stretch has been quite as good for the Golden Knights as the last three.

In that span, Central went 28-6, including a 6-1 record in the DIAA state tournament, and captured its first two Division I state crowns.

Extending that successful run for a fourth straight year isn’t going to be easy, however.

The defending state champion Knights graduated 15 seniors last spring, most of whom had played a big part in those 28 victories.

The squad that opens the season on Sept. 3 by hosting William Penn is going to be largely untested. Coach John Wells expects to have no more than 10 seniors on this year’s squad.

“We’re going to be very young,” he said. “It’s been a while. We’ve had three years in a row where we’ve had great numbers and talent.

“We’re not going to change our approach because we’re young. It’s not that we’re going to coach differently. We’re going to do the same stuff and get after it. It’s just that we’re going to be young.”

The good news for the Knights is that they already know they’re going to make the state tournament.

Under the state’s realignment, all 11 teams in Class 3A will be in the tourney this year. Central is in District II with fellow Henlopen North members Caesar Rodney, Cape Henlopen, Dover and Smyrna.

It will be the program’s sixth tourney appearance in a row.

So, in theory, the Knights only need to be playing their best by the end of the season.

“I’ve been telling our kids, because we may be one of the youngest teams in 3A, we have the most room for growth,” said Wells. “But we feel that, if we keep the same work ethic and high expectations, that with 3A having an open tournament, by the time we get to weeks eight, nine and 10, our young kids should have improved.

“That’s when we want to be playing our best football. And, if we grow like we hope, then we’re looking forward to the ‘second season.’”

Central does have some veterans to build around. Senior quarterback Zimir Gardner is back after making some big plays throwing the ball in last year’s state tournament.

Senior Diego Rodriquez-Costa was a second-team All-North defensive back while senior Juan Amezcua Justiani was a first-team All-North kicker.

The Knights also return tight end Diego Rodriguez, linemen Colin Tucker and receiver Gunnar Abbott on offense and Josh Negron and P.J. Henry on defense. Besides those veterans, though, there’s a lot of inexperienced players trying to figure things out.

“Right now, it’s different,” said Wells. “You go out there and you call plays and you have guys not quite sure of their assignments because they’re young. It’s also exciting seeing these young kids.

“It’s kind of a renewal and refreshing. I think, for the past three years, we’ve had some expectations on us statewide. We were supposed to be good. Although I think we can be (good), I don’t think the pressure’s on us.”

As for most Delaware football programs this fall, there aren’t really any weak teams on Central’s schedule during the regular season. The Knights go on the road to face tough non-district opponents Salesianum, Hodgson and Middletown.

“I think the three divisions comes at a tough time for us because we’re so young,” said Wells. “Now our schedule is fully-loaded every week against top-notch talent. The 3A schools are all pretty physical.

“We don’t expect any quarter,” he said. “A lot of the kids weren’t on the team last year. I tell them, ‘You better bring your ‘A’ game every week.’ ... Everybody is going to bring their ‘A’ game against us. It comes along with being the defending state champs.

“We’re not going to make excuses. We’re just going to go out there and play ball.”