CCHS set to host River in round 1
Crusaders have first home playoff game since 2013
STEUBENVILLE — For the first time since 2013, Catholic Central will host a playoff football game.
By virtue of its win over Pittsburgh Carrick on Saturday night, the Crusaders finished 7-3 and No. 4 in Division VII, Region 27, setting up a showdown with River this Saturday in the opening round of the playoffs.
Central is in the playoffs for a third-straight season and the 16th time in program history with an overall playoff record of 12-14. That home game in 2013 was Central’s most recent playoff victory.
“I told the kids I’m very proud of them,” Central head coach Eric Meek said. “Back in August I sat them down one day after practice and told them that if they do their best to be good people, be great teammates and play as hard as they can and have fun, that’s all I ask and they have certainly responded to that.
“Our goal was obviously to win games and make the playoffs, and I am proud of the kids. It’s been a really fun season and I feel like the kids have played very hard against some very good opponents.”
The Pilots finished No. 13 in the regional standings and enter the game with a record of 4-6.
The Pilots are in the playoffs for a fifth-straight year and the 15th time overall with a playoff record of 15-14. They went to the regional final two years ago and the regional semis last season.
“I know (River head coach) Mike Flannery very well, he’s an outstanding football coach,” Meek said. “They’re big across the front and they like to run the ball. They’re aggressive. They are coming off a real tough loss, so I’m sure their kids are going to be ready to go when they get to Harding Stadium Saturday night.
“We’ve got to win the physicality battle, we’ve got to win the turnover margin and we have to be able to move the ball. We need to stop their ground attack, and when they put it up, we’ve got to get to the football.”
After starting 0-3, River won four of its next six games to get back into the playoff race. They did suffer a tough, 7-6, setback to Frontier in their regular season finale to dip in the rankings slightly.
“Before last week they had been playing some really good football,” Meek said. “They’re a good team, they have a veteran coaching staff and we know that they are going to be fundamentally sound. They have had a really good tradition the last few years, River has put some very good teams on the field the past few years and that’s what we expect.”
The Pilots dropped games to North Robinson Colonial Crawford, Martins Ferry, Monroe Central, Barnesville and Shadyside in addition to the loss to Frontier.
Their wins came against Magnolia, Bridgeport, Shenandoah and Buckeye Local.
River averages 21.2 points per game and allows an average of 28.9 points.
The Crusaders run-heavy attack averages 23.3 points per game and allows an average of 18.5. Jimmy Hernon leads the way with over 1,000 rushing yards averaging more than six yards per carry while scoring 16 touchdowns.
Tommy Pergi has 700 rushing yards and six scores, while also being the team’s leading receiver with 252 yards and two scores.
Defensively, Peyton Rauch has racked up 20 sacks.
The winner of the match up will meet the winner of No. 5 Corning Miller and No. 12 Racine Southern, who play Friday night, in the second round. Should the Crusaders prevail, they would be at home again in the second round the following Saturday.
The opening kick this Saturday night is set for 7 p.m.