Centerburg’s historic football season ends in regional semifinal loss

A historic season didn’t end the way the Centerburg football team wanted.

The Trojans won the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference, claimed the top seed in their region and won playoff games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history. But the run ended a bit shorter than expected when a big, physical Colonel Crawford team came in to Centerburg and beat the Trojans, 42-13, in the Div. VI, Region 23 semifinal game Friday.

“It’s been a great season. The kids have played their butts off all year. It’s been a great ride; they have a lot to be proud of — within our program that haven’t been done before and very few other teams have ever done,” said Centerburg coach Andy Colella. “So, it’s going to sting. It should sting. It means something if that’s the case. I told them to keep their heads up; there’s a lot to be proud of.”

The Trojans (10-2) had won nine straight games before the Eagles came to town. After a feeling-out period for both teams, the Eagles (12-1) began to assert their dominance up front with the running game.

Quarterback Peyton Baker exploded for a 63-yard run to set up his bruising 6-yard touchdown run as time was winding down in the first quarter. Baker added an 8-yard run midway through the second quarter to push the lead to 14-0.

Centerburg tried to mount a late first-half comeback, marching to the Eagles’ 9-yard line before an incomplete pass in the end zone ended the half and the Trojans’ drive.

Colonel Crawford scored on the opening drive of the third quarter when bruising back Connor McMichael was left all alone along the left sideline for a 58-yard TD pass from Brayden Holt.

The Trojans finally got their offense on track on the ensuing drive, scoring on a 28-yard run by quarterback Blane Ball. But the excitement was short lived.

Holt found Jacob Cochran open on a screen pass, and with a convoy of blockers, Cochran raced 59 yards to the Trojan 5-yard line. McMichael finished off the drive, and for the most part, the Trojans, with a 2-yard plunge for another score to put CC up 28-7.

After stuffing Centerburg on fourth down at midfield, the Eagles put the game away with a two-play drive that resulted in another touchdown for McMichael, this time from 21 yards out.

Centerburg had its next drive end in an interception in the end zone, then finally scored with just 20 seconds left on a 3-yard pass from Ball to Miles Marshall.

“That’s a really good football team. Physically they got to us up front, and as a result, it makes things really difficult. Our kids battled all the way to the end. They didn’t quit,” Colella said.

With the loss the Trojans said good-bye to 12 seniors — Hayden Love, Skyler Merklin, Tommy Hause, Shawn Carter, Blane Ball, Aiden Gray, Cole Evans, Hagen Bryant, Evan Tudor, Lane Johnston, Jayden Pagani and Drake Dunno. During their high school careers, the Trojans went 31-14, won two KMAC titles and qualified for the playoffs three years.

“They’ve been awesome. They’ve done everything that we’ve asked them to do and more. Back to back years of winning playoff games, which has never been done before,” Colella said of his seniors. “They have a lot to be proud of and I’m extremely proud of them and grateful they bought into what we asked them to. I couldn’t be any happier with the things they were able to accomplish this year.”