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CADIZ -- Nine yards. If Harrison Central ran for just nine more yards last Friday in Cadiz, the Huskies would have reached the 500-yard mark for the game.
Still, 491 is generally well past "good enough" to secure a win. But Friday's game against Buckeye Trail was anything but a normal game.
Despite rushing for 491 yards and totaling 544 overall, the Huskies came out on the losing end, 44-41, against a Warriors team securing their second-straight impressive victory.
That type of effort, without coming out with a victory, was certainly a first for head coach Anthony Hayes and staff.
"I don't think ever in my career, as a head coach nor assistant, did we rush for nearly 500 yards and still lose," Hayes admitted. "I've been a part of a game where we threw for 400 yards and lost, but not that many rushing yards. You usually come out on top.
"What it does is proves we have to play a complete game and all the small things and little details matter. Everyone's job is important and you can't neglect any of those small details."
Two major details likely played a significant role in the Huskies' coming out on the losing end-losing three fumbles and Hayes' own admission that his team didn't tackle well on that night.
"It was one of those games where I think neither team did well on defense," Hayes said. "For us, we made too many mistakes and had too many missed tackles. Football always comes down to blocking and tackling. We blocked well, but we didn't tackle well and when you do that you leave yourself open for defeat.
"We need to clean that up."
And quickly at that.
Coming to Cadiz this Friday is a highly talented and experienced Malvern team, led by senior quarterback Jared Witherow.
Witherow threw for 2,315 yards and 30 touchdowns his junior season which saw Malvern finish 10-2. Part of that win total was a tightly-contested 22-20 win against Harrison in Week 3 at Malvern.
The Hornets are 2-0 in 2024 owning 36-16 and 35-20 wins against Valley Christian and Conotton Valley, respectively.
Witherow for his part has thrown for 221 yards and three touchdowns against two picks, with senior Rodney Smith serving as his main target.
Backfield mates Drake Hutchison and Aaron Gore have totaled 194 and 109 yards respectively, combining for five TDs.
Most of Witherow's weapons return, save for his leading receiver from '23.
"They have weapons everywhere," Hayes admitted. "Smith is a good receiver, and they picked up a transfer receiver from Massilon Perry who's talented.
"We also have to account for two outstanding running backs."
Fortunately, a strength of Harrison's defense is its secondary, coupled with a solid pass rush.
There's also the Huskies offense. Not nearly as diverse yet as last season as Hayes and his staff work to bring along new starter Brady Hyre, the Huskies still sport an experienced offensive line blocking for all-Ohio back Mykel Quito.
With Malvern likely loading up to stop the run, the passing game will need more production than one completion for 53 yards come Friday. In fairness, that one completion was for a touchdown and when you're rushing for nearly 500 yards, passing isn't really a necessity.