CENTERBURG — Everyone can participate in the playoffs this year.
But some teams would’ve gotten there any other year. Meet the Centerburg Trojans.
The undefeated Trojans are ninth in the latest Division VI state football poll. That’s a spot higher than last week.
Centerburg will host Fredericktown on Friday.
Elsewhere in the area, Scott Spitler’s postgame message was brief and to the point last week.
“There’s only one thing to do,” the veteran Lucas coach said after the Cubs’ 37-7 loss at Shelby, “and that’s get back to work.”
Shelby quarterback Marshall Shepherd and his stable of talented receivers took advantage of an inexperienced Lucas secondary to the tune of 320 passing yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Lucas couldn’t get much going offensively after its first drive of the night resulted in a Grant Barrett 1 yard touchdown plunge.
“I didn’t do a good enough job of getting our guys ready and that’s on me,” said Spitler, who has never been one to deal in excuses. “We’ll be better next week.”
The Cubs slipped to No. 8 in Division VII in this week’s Associated Press state poll after peaking at No. 2 last week. Lucas, which closes the regular season at Galion on Friday ahead of next week’s playoff opener, was one of four area teams ranked in this week’s poll.
Shelby climbed to No. 10 in Division IV after last week’s win over the Cubs. The undefeated Whippets (5-0) host River Valley on Friday.
Shelby has been bitten by the injury bug as standout running back Owen Fisher didn’t play in the second half against Lucas. Talented defensive end and sack artist Marek Albert is still recovering from a broken collarbone suffered earlier in the season.
“With a win over Lucas, we can get a (first-round playoff) bye and we can get healthy,” Shelby coach Rob Mahaney said. “We can rest up Owen and Marek comes back. All these kids get healthy and it could really help us in the postseason.”
