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HANNIBAL -- Buckeye Local is down to its final two games for 2023.
There will be no playoffs. The Panthers, at 1-7, are mathematically eliminated.
Lots of things have combined that factor into Buckeye being at this point with two games to go -- key graduation losses of foundational pieces, injuries, and inexperience.
But what can't be overlooked is the difficulty of the Panthers' schedule.
Nine of the Panthers' opponents are a combined 46-25.
Four of those teams have already clinched playoff spots, including this week's opponent, 5-2 River.
One other team, Union Local (5-3) controls its destiny, while the remaining four -- Edison (6-2), Monroe Central (4-4), Shenandoah (3-5) and even Shadyside (2-6) are still alive at this late hour.
In fairness, that cumulative record doesn't include Brownsville--the Panthers loan win of the season. But even the Falcons finally snapped a four-season long losing streak with a 36-30 overtime win recently against Carrick.
Buckeye may be struggling in the win-loss column, but head coach Jim Hoover's Panthers aren't losing games against bad teams.
This week's opponent will certainly pose a stiff challenge.
River, led by strong-armed quarterback Kabel Isaly, has won three straight and four of its last five.
Most recently, the Pilots held off a spirited Shenandoah team in a shootout, 28-24. Buckeye fell short in its own high-scoring game with the Zeps, 44-33 back in September.
Isaly averages nearly 150 yards (148.7) through the air with 11 touchdowns against just one interception.
While not logging a ton of yards in the rushing department (82 yards and three TDs), the senior can rely on backfield mates Lucas Dennis and Kaden Johnson in that department. Dennis has 435 yards and seven scores while Johnson is right behind with 373 and nine.
Dennis is also the team's leading receiver with 309 yards and four scores on 16 receptions, averaging nearly 20 yards per catch (19.3).
The Pilots offense under head coach Mike Flannery has scored at least 20 points in every game but one, a 35-7 loss to Barnesville, a team that owns four shutouts and has only allowed more than one score once all season.
Buckeye's offense is plodding along and, slowly or not, it's showing increasing signs of life since erupting for 40 points against Brownsville. Prior to that, only a special teams touchdown provided any points during the first three games.
Quarterback Alex McDiffitt leads the resurgence, rushing for 62.3 yards per game with six scores and throwing for nearly 300 yards and four TDs. Noah Kourim backs him with 258 yards on 41 carries.
Those aren't eye-popping, but McDiffitt hasn't been the starter the entire season. He took over for 2022 starter Skyler Ebright who battled injuries in the early part of the season.
Ebright has turned into the teams leading receiver with 14 receptions. While Brennin Takach has 11 and leads the team in yardage.
Following the River game, Buckeye will close out the season in the annual battle for the VALES Trophy with rival Harrison Central.
The Huskies, won took back the trophy in 2022, will make the trek to World War II Memorial next Friday.