PLAYOFF TIME — The Catholic Central football team will be back on the field at Harding Stadium Friday night hosting Danville in their playoff opener. - Andrew Grimm

STEUBENVILLE — Not too many people probably would have predicted Catholic Central to earn a home playoff game before the season started. With a tough schedule and replacing a big senior class of key players from last year’s playoff team, it seemed it would be a challenge.

The Crusaders were up for it. With last week’s win over Cleveland East Tech to close the regular season, Central finished sixth in Division VII, Region 27 and will play at home in the opening round Friday night at Harding Stadium.

“It’s great,” Central head coach Eric Meek said of earning a home game. “You know, we finished sixth in our region and when you really look at it, we’re sitting here 6-4 and against two really good teams, Fairport Harbor and Strasburg, we were within a touchdown. So, I feel like our kids have really improved and they’ve grown as a football team. And we’re happy for our seven seniors that we’re able to host a playoff game.

“We got a tough draw, but it is what it is. We’re looking forward to Friday night.”

That tough draw is No. 11 seed Danville, who finished its regular season 5-5. That record and seeding might be deceiving, however, as the Blue Devils are the defending regional champs and went to the state semifinals a year ago. Of their 10 regular season games, eight were against teams in a higher division.

“They have a young team compared to a year ago,” Meek said. “Of course, last year, they won the region and made it to the final four and lost in the semis in a very tight game. They have some younger kids this year, but they’re obviously still a very good football team and they play a very competitive schedule. So, their tradition and all of those things make it exciting. I’ve never personally coached against Danville, but I’ve always had great respect for their program and their tradition.”

The Blue Devils will be the latest in a long list of tough opponents Central has played this season, having seen the likes of undefeated, state-ranked Fairport Harding, fellow playoff qualifiers Strasburg, Bishop Rosecrans and Conotton Valley, West Virginia Class A No. 1 Wheeling Central and what looks to be another W.Va. playoff team in Oak Glen.

“I think it has helped us,” Meek said of the tough schedule. “Since the Wheeling Central game, which I was not very happy with our effort in, our kids have played really hard in every game. 

“I think that our kids have played hard. They’ve played good football and they’ve played aggressive and I’m proud of them for it.”

The Blue Devils run the ball more than they pass, but not nearly as much as Central. They have a 1,000-yard rusher in Cyren Wallace, who has nine TDs and five different receivers who are in double digits in pass catching, having used two different QBs this year. Of late, they’ve been led by freshman Parker Proper, who has 765 yards and completes more than 61 percent of his passes with seven scores and seven picks.

“They’ve got tremendous speed,” Meek said of Danville. “And again, they’ve been battle tested. They’ve played up against many larger schools on their schedule and their tradition is incredible.”

Central QB Matthew Sprochi has rushed for 1,021 yards and 10 scores, throwing for 741 and four more TDs. Despite a nearly 4-1 run-pass ratio, Central also has four receivers in double digits in the catch department.

The opening kick Friday night is set for 7 p.m.