By Jim Lockwood
Staff Writer

The week following Manchester Central's stunning 20-0 gridiron loss to Queen City rival Manchester West allowed the Little Green to learn a lot.

In school, students and teachers wanted to know why the state's dominant Division I program lost to West for the first time in 12 years.

Manchester Central head football coach Jim Schubert (center) addresses his players after they pulled off a dramatic come-from-behind 26-20 overtime win against visiting Concord at Gill Stadium on Friday, Sept. 16. Schubert told the team he was proud it avoided beginning the 2005 Division I campaign 0-2, and complimented his athletes for scoring with 50 seconds left in regulation to force OT. (Jim Lockwood Photo)

On the practice field, players worked to return to winning form, as they gun for a fourth consecutive championship.

"(At practice) it was pretty intense. We upped the ante a little bit," said Central head coach Jim Schubert. "I let them know the mystique (of Central football) is gone."

Winning and state championships were a staple at Central over the past 10 seasons.

In that time, the Little Green machine mounted an 83-19 record. The locals captured five D-I titles in the past six seasons. Just last year, the Little Green were a perfect 13-0 en route to a convincing championship game victory against Pinkerton Academy of Derry.

From Schubert's perspective, Central's loss to West resulted from an inability to score first or execute near the goal line.

On three occasions, Central was inside the Blue Knights. 15- yard line, but couldn't convert those trips into points.

Candia's Cory Wright, a wide receiver and defensive back for the Little Green, was asked questions in the school's halls all week.

"I probably got asked 75 times what happened. I was sick of hearing it," said Wright. "I (said) I didn't know. We broke down and made mental mistakes. They wanted it more than we did."

However, in some respects, the loss was a good thing.

According to Wright, it reinforced the lesson that Central's opponents are going to bring their best efforts when facing the Little Green and attempt to prove they can play with the champs.

Furthermore, it showed the players that reputation alone - even one as grand as Central's - doesn't win football games.

The setback against West left Central - owners of an .814 winning percentage over the last decade - in a scary position, After the West contest, Central was 1-1 overall and 0-1 in its division.

The Little Green increased the intensity of its practice routines in the week leading up to the Concord contest at Gill Stadium on Friday, Sept. 17. Wright said the team ran extra sprints and Schubert said he incorporated extra hitting drills.

The work paid off. It took a late fourth-quarter rally and overtime, but Central prevailed, 26-20.

Central quarterback Josh Ratacik scored on an 8-yard run with 50 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game, 20-20.

Central then blocked a Crimson Tide field goal from the 10-yard line to keep the opposition off the scoreboard.

Ratacik later fired the winning 3-yard touchdown pass to Dan Conley.

The Little Green QB finished the night going 9-for-13 with 194 yards and four touchdowns - one running and three passing.

"We had the taste in our mouth (of losing to West) all week," said Wright. "Now it's gone."