Centerburg shuts out Fredericktown 34-0 to claim outright KMAC championship

The Centerburg-Fredericktown rivalry has had its share of big games.

But Friday’s game meant just a little more. Besides the normal bragging rights and Freddie-Burg trophy, this one included the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference title and state playoff implications. In the end, Centerburg’s physicality and star power at the skill positions won out, as the Trojans pulled off a 34-0 victory at Fredericktown.

“It’s (the rivalry) awesome. You’ve got two great communities. It’s small-town football at its finest. It’s fun to be a part of,” said Centerburg coach Andy Colella. “You add that element to it. We talked all week to the kids – it’s week 10, you’re playing your rival, you’re playing for a trophy, you’re playing for a championship, you’re playing for a number one seed in the region. You couldn’t draw it up any better. It’s awesome.”

The victory secured the No. 1 playoff spot in Division VI, Region 23 for the Trojans (9-1 overall, 7-0 KMAC). They will receive a bye and will host a second-round game on Nov. 7. Fredericktown (8-2, 5-2) will play in the Division V, Region 18 playoffs this Friday at Fairview Park (8-2).

While the Trojans have been putting up more than 40 points per game this season, it was the defense that did the trick against the Freddies. They gave up 167 yards rushing to the potent Freddie rushing attack, but came up with the big plays when needed. The Trojans stopped Fredericktown twice inside the red zone and also intercepted a pass on another potential Freddie scoring drive.

The biggest stop came early in the game, as Fredericktown was driving for a potential tying touchdown. Centerburg stopped the Freddies on fourth down inside its own 20-yard line, then marched 80 yards for another score to make it 12-0.

“(That was) huge. It’s a ball control offense they have. You know they are going to get their yards. For the kids to be able to hang with it and get a stop that late, it usually doesn’t happen when you’re playing them. And to turn around and go back down there, that was huge,” Colella said.

The Centerburg ground game ate up the Freddies and the clock for most of the game. CHS picked up 293 yards on the ground, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry. Miles Marshall led the way with 137 yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Blane Ball had 124 yards on just nine carries, including a 64-yarder that set up the fourth score early in the fourth quarter.

The Trojans had opened the game on fire, cruising down the field and scoring on a 6-yard TD strike from Ball to Hayden Love. Ball’s 7-yard run in the second made it 12-0 and then Marshall scored the first of his two TDs midway through the quarter to push the lead to 20-0.

After Marshall’s TD, the Freddies again tried to mount a comeback, but Tommy Hause picked off a Blake Sipes’ pass on fourth down to thwart that drive. Fredericktown stuffed the Trojans on three plays, then put together another strong drive. Once again, though, they were stuffed on a fourth-down play, this time at the 5-yard line.

Centerburg finally put the game away for good with a 2-yard TD run by Marshall and a 5-yard run from Shawn Carter in the fourth quarter.

While the offense continued their solid play, Colella was more impressed with the way his defense played, especially up front.

“(They) Challenge the guys up front with the style of offense they run. Controlling the line of scrimmage for us on offense and then being able to slow down what they are doing (was key),” Colella said. “We got some stops and some turnovers and things like that, so it’s huge. That’s one way to stop them.”

Ball added 75 yards through the air on 6 of 8 passing. Love caught four of those passes for 49 yards, including the touchdown.

Fredericktown was led by Gavin Toombs, who had 81 yards rushing on 20 carries. Sipes added 45 yards on the ground and another 51 through the air on 5 of 9 passing, while Cirk Parker had 38 yards rushing.