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WINTERSVILLE -- The time is now for Harrison Central if it wants to position itself for a shot at the Ohio Division VI postseason.
The Huskies are currently 4-4 and are No. 13 in Region 17. Six teams have unofficially clinched playoff spots, with six teams above Harrison, and one below in Orville (4-4) controlling their own destiny.
Even at a potential 6-4 record, Harrison may need a little help as its two remaining opponents -- 2-6 Buckeye Local to end the season and this week's match-up with 1-7 Indian Creek -- have a combined three wins.
Neither are points cows, but given both are Division IV teams, every little bit will help.
The Huskies are coming off their third-straight setback, a 49-14 loss to unbeaten Edison.
Harrison has dropped three straight, all to teams with winning records. In games against St. Clairsville, Beaver Local, and most recently the Wildcats, the Huskies' opponents have combined to go 20-4.
That's far from an easy slate and head coach Anthony Hayes and his staff challenged their players to do some soul searching and find out what kind of team they are and where they wanted their season to go.
So far, Hayes likes the way his team's risen to said challenge this week.
"They've responded well I believe," Hayes said. "We've had some good practices and some good conversations this week and I like the players' attitudes."
Two weeks ago, Harrison fell at home to Beaver 65-7. Last week, it was Creek's turn to tangle with the high-powered Beavers and head coach Andrew Conner's youthful Redskins suffered a similar fate.
Creek trailed only 14-6 after senior Isaac Robinson answered a Beavers' touchdown pass with a 75-yard kickoff return for six.
But what was a close game quickly got out-of-hand in the second quarter as Beaver reeled off 28 unanswered points to take a 42-6 lead into the break.
"We felt we were in a good position down 14-6, but then it got away from us in a hurry," Conner recalled. "They were able to make some big plays and we need to limit that this week."
A 52-yard hook-up between Robinson and quarterback Sal Barcalow resulted in Creek's only other touchdown in the 56-13 loss.
Harrison, meanwhile, had to contend with the rushing attack of the unbeaten Wildcats, led by a 313-yard effort by Talan McClurg .
The Huskies will face a similarly offensive-minded Redskins team, led by the rushing of sophomore Zion McGee, who along with Robinson, comprise what is a dangerous backfield.
Harrison will counter with a balanced attack as both running back Mykel Quito and quarterback Hayden Cassidy are capable of big-play nights.
Both were hemmed up vs. the Wildcats as Harrison managed only 79 yards of total offense. Conner,
however, knows what they are capable of and while he hopes his defense can put some pressure on the Huskies' QB, he's wary of his ability to run.
"We've noticed he can do a lot of damage with his legs and make plays," Conner said. "So while we want to put pressure on him, we know we need to keep him in the pocket and not let him get outside."