Last season's winless season didn't dampen Zach Boerboom's desire to return to the football field.

It fueled it.

"No wins really pushed you," the Central senior tight end said. "Just looking at last year's record, that's enough reason to get in the weight room and get back on the field. If there's any extra things you can do, that 0-fer in the win column is motivation enough."

The Tigers are tired of listening to talk about their winless season and 1-19 record over the last two seasons.

They said they've taken their lumps as younger players and are ready for their experience to pay off.

Central players listen to quarterback Christian Cavaness (8) in the huddle Friday at their jamboree in Farmington, Mo. (Kristin Eberts)

"There's not one kid on that team that's reflecting on, especially the seniors, that they've been 1-19, just like I've been 1-19 as a coach," Central coach Rich Payne said. "I'm not reflecting on that. We're looking forward to what we have in front of us."

There's a lot to like about this season's Tigers. Payne changed his team's defensive scheme to capitalize on its speed.

"The changes we made are we went from a base four-man front to a base three-man front where we're going to be able to move those three down linemen, but at the same time, blitz multiple linebackers," he said. "We're going to try to keep the offense on their heels and be more the aggressor with what we do with the defensive front seven."

Payne watched his linemen grow fatigued as games progressed last season. He said the move to the three-man defensive front will allow him to cycle in fresh linemen.

"With one less lineman on the field, you can rotate those linemen, which keeps those linemen who also play on offense, fresher so that we're fresher in the second half," he said. "No. 2, it plays into our hand of having more speed on the defensive side of the football. With three defensive linemen then we've got eight kids that can run to the football."

Central quarterback Christian Cavaness warms up before taking the field during Friday's jamboree in Farmington, Mo.

The players embraced the change.

"It's been pretty easy," senior Zach Horrell said. "Guys have accepted it."

The Tigers' increased speed has changed the defense's attitude.

"We're stronger and faster," Horrell said. "That's going to help a lot. It's going to be a lot more stops, a lot more turnovers for us."

The Tigers return 10 starters on defense, including leading tackler Keilon Moore. The senior said the defense looks better because of improved communication.

Central running back Deonte Jenkins carries the ball at the jamboree as teammate David Huffman blocks.

"Communicating is probably the most important because when you communicate, you know where everybody going," he said. "You know what everybody supposed to do."

Payne said the offense is rounding into form. Christian Cavaness will start at quarterback and lead a team that returns 10 starters.

"We've got the offensive package in," Payne said. "We've had it in since July. Now we're just refining it and practicing against multiple defenses, trying to get it better. It's not that we've relearned a system. It's the same system we've had for two years now and a lot of kids have been a part of that system for two years. ... It makes coaching where you're really working on the finer points of things as opposed to teaching the basic stuff."

Cavaness split time with Andrew Williams at quarterback last season. Williams will play wide receiver this year.

"Most of our passing stuff this year, you're not going to see us in the shotgun and those kind of things," Payne said. "Most of our passing stuff will be off play action or drop backs."

Central senior Andrew Williams splits a pair of Cardinal Ritter defenders during Friday's jamboree.

Moore, one of the Tigers' top running backs last season, said Central plans to attack on offense.

"We're going to have a different range of plays, not just all runs and third down we pass," he said. "We're going to run at people instead of trying to do sweeps and stuff every play. Running downhill. And we have a quarterback who is pretty accurate."

Payne said his team's experience combined with increased conditioning drills should eliminate some of the letdowns from last season.

"You've got to be consistent on both sides of the ball in order to be in a position to win," he said. "I think our consistency was lacking last year. There were times we were very, very efficient and there were times when we weren't.

"They're focusing on their assignments and what they're supposed to do every time they come to the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball."