'Welcome to being the bad guy': Central embraces 'villain' role after state semifinal run

WELLINGTON − Alarms came early for Palm Beach Central on Monday, but a 6:15 a.m. call time is nothing when another championship run awaits.

For the Broncos, the first day of practice for the 2023 season was what most high school coaches expect when players return, according to second-year skipper Kevin Thompson.

"I've been doing this a long time. When it first comes out, you always know it's going to be bad − paperwork late, tardy, at first in the morning, they're groggy. You know it's going to be bad, but every year you're always surprised when it is," Thompson said with a laugh.

Summer's lighthearted days of hanging out with friends and 7-on-7 camps have gone. The drive to December is on. And Thompson doesn't want Class 4M Central to forget it was Palm Beach County's last team standing in 2022 − or what comes with it.

"We started out a little rough. Half the team is still inside doing paperwork. But you can tell everybody out here is really trying to get into this mode of 'Oh my God. This is intense' − I think they're going to do a lot better tomorrow. A lot of work to do, for sure."

The three-hour long session closed with a fatigued herd of Broncos lined up for a conditioning test. Players and staff alike unsatisfied with the handful of bent-over frames that followed a series of shuttles, Thompson lit a fire in his team that'll last for fall camp and then some.

"Welcome to being the bad guy," he shouted.

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"Everyone hates you. Do you know that?" Thompson said, citing "calls day in and day out."

"You're about to get championship-level football every week."

This fall, Central is the team with the target on its back, underdogs removed after a senior-led crew's 12-1 rout to the final four. Although a fresh roster may take some time to mesh on the field, the new Broncos have come together on what role they want to play.

As the plotlines brew for the grueling months ahead, here are four things to know about Palm Beach County's latest self-appointed "villain":

New additions replenish senior exodus

There was no shortage of transfers coming into the 2023 season. Especially not for Central.

Among the team's 10-plus incoming athletes from surrounding programs were the Dwyers, Cam and Marvin Jr., from Palm Beach Christian Prep. Thompson expects the brothers to have breakout seasons.

The most notable new additions included not one, but two four-star wide receivers − Waden Charles and Kamare Williams − fitting replacements for outgoing three-star senior duo Luby Maurice Jr., now at Florida International, and Javorian Wimberly, who chose Central Michigan.

"At Somerset [Canyons] they had a standard, but here at Central, we have a higher standard," Charles said. He left his Boynton Beach-based team on June 30.

"Coach Thompson wants everybody to look the same, everybody to come to practice on time. He wants the scene to be coached by the players." Charles said. "If somebody comes late, if your own teammate tells you that you came late it's going to feel different than when a coach does it."

Charles' favorite thing about Central in the short month he's been part of the program is that "everyone likes to complete."

"They want to win. They all have that same angle. At Somerset, it felt like it was a bunch of individuals so I had to separate myself."

Still, questions remain. Who will be the commander of the defense? For offense, the wonder is who'll be the Broncos' starting quarterback.

The post-championship run competition for QB1

"We can't really play the superhero anymore," sophomore quarterback Caleb Butler said.

The youngster has seen the most time in the pocket since the exit of 2021 Palm Beach Post Offensive Player of the Year Ahmad Haston to the University of Massachusetts. In turn, the majority of local football fans have expected him to take the reins throughout the offseason.

But as of the first day of the season, Thompson maintains that there isn't a definitive answer for who his starter will be. Each bringing their own set of strengths, Central has three options: Butler, Wellington transfer Matis Gibson, and out-of-state freshman Kingston Rust from Rhode Island.

"Caleb knows exactly what we expect. He knows the system. He's been here the longest," Thompson said. "Matis has played quarterback the longest. He has the more experience. He's the oldest one."

Rust, on the other hand, offers a "cannon of an arm."

"All I've got to do is keep my head down and focus on myself and not focus on anybody else because this team is going to make sure we win," Butler said, feeling confident going into the upcoming weeks of competition.

"We've got the weapons. All we've got to do is provide the weapons."

Defense bounces back bigger

Including Butler, the count of returning offensive players like Nedrick Boldin, Leon Williams, or Britton Holmes, who can lead outweighs the limited, young choices on defense.

The backfield brings back stars like cornerback Mikey Gayle and 4-star ATH recruit Tony Williams, stepping up for 2022 Palm Beach Post Defensive POTY Justin Bostic, but what voice will call the trenches? In the spot of former defensive end and leader Nick Touissaint, up-and-coming 2025 edge Romando Johnson from Wellington is a potential choice.

Alas, what Central lacks in experience at the front lines, it makes up for in size, a visibly larger line than last fall's roster at first glance.

"We just had a bunch of overachievers last year. These guys were humbled because they were undersized," Thompson said. "These guys are more like, 'Hey, we're all Division I guys. We're all big guys. What do you want us to do? What else do you want us to do?' "

"They're kind of immature, but they're really talented, and we're just looking for that one guy to be the leader."

Games for Classes 1M, 2M, etc.: All small-school schedules for the 2023 season

Games for Classes 3M, 4M: All big-school schedules for 2023 season

Central's schedule strengthens for 2023 season

Classification: 4M Region 3 District 10

All games scheduled for 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Kickoff Classic: 8/17 at Atlantic

8/25 at Creekside (St. Johns), 7 p.m.

8/31 at Boca Raton

9/8 vs. Park Vista

9/14 at Pahokee

9/22 Bye

9/29 at Leonard

10/6 vs. Benjamin

10/12 vs. Forest Hill

10/20 at Palm Beach Gardens

10/27 at Wellington

11/3 vs. Cardinal Newman

Emilee Smarr is the high school sports reporter for the Palm Beach Post. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: 'Welcome to being the bad guy': Central embracing 'villain' role in 2023