QB Jeffrey Coplin, Central having bounce-back season

CENTRAL SENIOR Jeffrey Coplin had to sit and watch last year as the Lancers struggled through an abysmal season.

The southpaw quarterback broke his fibula in Week 1 and played mostly bystander as Central (1-11, 1-5) fell to the bottom of the Public League's AAAA Liberty division.

That struggle, however, made last week's 13-12 quarterfinal upset of defending Pub champ Ben Franklin even sweeter.

Next up, Coplin and Central, our latest Players of the Week, face host Simon Gratz in semifinal action on Friday.

"This was a really big moment for all of us," Coplin said. "Last year we came off a really bad season, but, with the turnaround that we've had, the attitude of the players has changed. We knew we had to make a statement and this was just the beginning of it."

Central junior wide receiver Colin Washington scored both touchdowns for the Lancers (6-4, 5-2), including an 81-yard kick return to start the third quarter, the game's final tally.

"All year I've been telling him he has a lot of potential waiting to be unlocked," Coplin said. "And it's coming out at the right time. He catches big passes, and he's already made for the big moment. Throwing to him is fun. I wish I had another year at it."

After he broke his leg last season, Coplin, now a 6-foot, 180-pounder, returned for the Lancers' final three games. The season and the team, however, were already in disarray.

"The team was separated and there wasn't much love in the locker room," Coplin said. "There were a lot of arguments and people disagreeing."

Despite the trying times, the injury did afford Coplin perspective.

"It helped me with one big thing: It made me more grateful for the game, because it can be taken from you at any moment," he said. "And you have to make sure you capture these moments because not everyone gets these moments."

This season, the Lancers, led by seventh-year coach Rich Drayton, recouped team cohesion.

"This year, it's more of a brotherhood," Coplin said. "We might have our disagreements, but we put them aside to handle our business to achieve the greater goal."

With Liberty Division top dog Gratz (11-2, 6-0) up next, Coplin and Co. will play underdog again. The Bulldogs beat the Lancers, 34-6, in Week 8.

"The first game, I feel we weren't ready," Coplin said. "I feel like people didn't know what they were walking into, and I feel like people may have been a little frightened. When we walk into this game, we understand what we need to do and what we saw on film. We understand who we are, so this should be a better game on our part. I feel like if we do what we need to do, we could walk out of there with a 'W.' "

West Catholic's Joshua Evans tied a city postseason record with five touchdown passes in the Burrs' 46-0 semifinal domination of Neumann-Goretti. West Catholic's Craig Jones caught four passes for 140 yards and a score . . . Malvern Prep's O'Shaan Allison rushed for 253 yards on 20 carries in a 37-7 victory against Penn Charter . . . Lansdale Catholic's Ryan Quigley rushed for 225 yards on 22 carries in the Crusaders' 35-12 AA semifinal win against Conwell-Egan . . . Northeast's Amir Paulk finished with 201 yards and three scores in the Vikings' 40-18 quarterfinal triumph against Bartram.