The varsity football team welcomed the Marysville Monarchs for the first time ever to Centerville Stadium for a 2nd Round Regional Quarterfinal game. The atmosphere was incredible as both team has great and enthusiastic crowds.

The Elks were able to get on the board first with a 25 yard FG by senior Jackson Courville with 1:42 left in the 1st quarter. The Elks led 3-0 at the end of the 1st quarter. Marysville ran it's Wing-T offense to perfection as they capped off an 80 yard drive with 7:54 left in the 2nd quarter to take a 7-3 lead. The Elks immediately answered on their next drive with sophomore Braylon Newcomb hitting senior Nic Bruder for a 13 yard gain on 4th and 4 down to the Marysville 9 yard line and then Newcomb broke loose for a 9 yard TD run to make it 9-7 Elks after the PAT was no good with 3:40 left in the half.

The Elks took a 9-7 lead into halftime and then on their opening drive of the 3rd quarter the Elks fumbled the ball away to Marysville at their own 21 yard line and Marysville scored in 2 plays to take a 14-9 lead with 10:26 left in the 2nd quarter. The Elks answered quickly as they took their next drive 62 yards and a Newcomb 1 yard TD run put the Elks up 17-14 after Newcomb jumped in for a 2 point conversion with 6:59 left in the 3rd quarter. Marysville responded quickly and took their last lead on a 53 yard TD run at the 4:47 mark of the 3rd quarter 21-17 for our 6th lead change of the game.

The Elks then responded again for our 7th and final lead change as Newcomb shook free for a 32 yard TD run at the 2:21 mark of the 3rd quarter to put the Elks up for good 24-21. From this point on the Elks defense, offense and special teams all made plays and took over the game for good. It began with Jackson Courville breaking Centerville legend Mike Nugent’s longest field record of 52 yards. Jackson hit a 55 yard field goal with 8:33 to play in the 4th quarter to go to put the Elks up 27-21. The defense responded to that huge play and forced a 3 and out from Marysville and then blocked a punt and the Elks took over at the Monarchs 21 yard line. Bruder his junior Jamar Montgomery for a 21 yard TD pass on a great play call to put the Elks up 35-21 with 7:02 left in the game.

On Marysville next drive junior Ross Coppock picked off a 4th down pass attempt and returned it 29 yards for a TD and the Elks closed out the game from there to win 42-21. The Elks are now 10-2 overall and this team is only the second Centerville Football team in history to win two playoff games in one season and the first since 1991 (the state runner-up team). This is an incredible accomplishment for this program. There are some that want to diminish this accomplishment on social media by commenting that the playoffs have been expanded. I choose to celebrate these kids and coaches that have overcome so much adversity and just continue to believe in each other and win games. I am so proud of all of you and do what I do, ignore the haters and focus on each other and celebrate your accomplishments.

The Elks now move on to the Regional Semi-Finals next Friday and will face the Springfield Wildcats at 7 pm at a site still to be determined. Tickets for this game will only be available at www.ohsaa.org/tickets
Get out and get behind this team!