CENTERBURG — One already has locked up a playoff berth and the other is likely to do so as well, regardless of what happens Friday night, but bragging rights — and the Freddie-Burg Trophy — are still on the line.
Centerburg hosts Fredericktown in the regular season finale Friday and the way Trojans’ coach Andy Colella sees it, you can throw the records out the window.
“Regardless of schedule and all those things, it’s a rivalry game,” Colella said after his squad clinched at least a share of the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference crown with a win over Northmor last week. “We’ve had some really good battles over the last however many years.
“You know they’re gonna bring their best. It’ll be fun.”
Fredericktown (6-3, 4-2) at Centerburg (8-1, 6-0): The Freddies have won two in a row after last week’s 44-28 victory over Cardington. Fredericktown boasts the top rusher in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference in Teegan Ruhl. The senior rushed for 214 yards and four touchdowns against the Pirates and now has 1,602 yards and 22 TDs on 216 carries this season. Quarterback Ben Mast completed 5-of-7 passes for 104 yards and one TD last week and is 47-for-96 for 629 yards and five scores on the year. Defensively, Mason Hoeflich leads the charge with 80.5 tackles.
Centerburg quarterback Tyler Johnson continues to make his case for KMAC Player of the Year. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior ranks second to Ruhl in rushing with 1,307 yards and 16 touchdowns on 206 carries and is third in the KMAC in passing, completing 93-of-170 attempts for 1,216 yards and 15 touchdowns. Running back Caylan LeMaster has rumbled for 1,054 yards and nine TDs on 136 carries, while Jesse Rings has 30 receptions for 409 yards and three scores. Rings leads the conference with five interceptions
Danville (7-2, 5-1) at East Knox (2-7, 1-5): The Blue Devils bounced back from a Week 8 loss to Centerburg with a 19-8 win over vastly-improved Mount Gilead last week. Quarterback Walker Weckesser has completed 71-of-136 passes for 899 yards and seven touchdowns. Max Payne rushed for 106 yards on 21 carries last week. Kaiden Colony had four catches, while Caleb Lucas had a pair of touchdown receptions.
The Bulldogs dropped their fourth straight last week, falling 49-8 at Loudonville. Quarterback Jax Lester has completed 74-of-137 passes on the season for 808 yards and three touchdowns. Carson Steinmetz leads the KMAC with 54 receptions, good for 592 yards and three TDs. Cole Delaughder has rushed for 750 yards and four touchdowns on 134 carries. Defensively, Blake Elliott has a team-high 66.5 tackles. Jacob Neighbarger has a team-high 11 tackles for loss.
Northmor (5-4, 2-4) at Loudonville (5-4, 3-3): The Golden Knights have dropped two in a row and four of five after last week’s 49-13 loss at Centerburg. Northmor needs a win Friday to secure a playoff spot. Quarterback A.J. Bower has completed 122-of-222 passes for 1,696 yards and 16 touchdowns. Wideout Hunter Fulk has 40 catches for 547 yards and seven TDs. Fulk also has a pair of interceptions, one of four Knights with two or more. C.J. Stoney leads the way with three interceptions while Fulk, Carson Campbell and Caleb Schnuerer have two each.
The Redbirds have won three in a row after last week’s 49-8 victory over East Knox and have locked up a playoff spot in Division VI, Region 23. Quarterback Matt Sprang is the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference’s leading passer, completing a KMAC-best 58 percent of his passes for 1,735 yards and 17 touchdowns. Zach Frankford ranks second in the KMAC with 52 receptions for 656 yards and four TDs. Micah Simpson has 31 catches for 465 yards and four scores. Defensively, Frankford has a pair of interceptions while Aidan Wolford has three interceptions and 87 tackles, including eight tackles for loss. Frankford is the KMAC’s most dangerous kickoff return man, averaging 29.9 yards per return.
Clear Fork (8-1, 6-0) at Highland (7-2, 6-0): The Colts roughed up longtime nemesis Shelby 61-19 last week as quarterback Victor Skoog rushed for 223 yards and four touchdowns and completed 6-of-11 passes for 121 yards. For the season, Skoog has thrown for 1,118 yards and eight TDs and rushed for 822 yards and 13 scores. Pawie Ault has 648 yards and 11 TDs on 90 carries, while Trystyn Robison has 454 yards and six TDs on 52 attempts and a team-high 21 receptions for 190 yards. Tight end Milo Burgholder has 15 grabs for a team-best 310 yards and two touchdowns. Jay Jackson (12 receptions, 246 yards, 2 TDs) and Logan Anderson (14 catches, 224 yards, 2 TDs) have also been reliable targets for Skoog. Defensively, Kaden Riddle is an All-Ohio candidate with offers from Dayton and Ashland among others. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive end has 53 tackles and three sacks. Linebacker Luke Schlosser has a team-high 55 tackles.
The Fighting Scots set up the championship showdown with a 42-21 win over River Valley. Running back Dane Nauman is one of the best underclassmen in the state. The 6-foot, 215-pound junior has rushed for 2,199 yards and 27 touchdowns on 254 carries, averaging 8.7 yards per attempt. With defenses focused on Nauman, Chandler Stevens has proven to be a good change of pace. Stevens has rushed for 252 yards on 28 carries, averaging a MOAC-best 9 yards per carry. Quarterback Kolton Stover has completed 59-of-103 passes for 567 yards and six touchdowns, but suffered an injury early in the fourth quarter of last week’s win. Zach Schmidt has a team-high 21 catches for 231 yards. Nauman is also a standout linebacker. His 45.5 tackles lead the team. Stevens has 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
