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Big 12 football: Week 5 lookahead

Posted by: Tony Bleill

Wednesday, September 24, 2008 10:23 PM

Coach Dave Jacobs and his Champaign Central football team make no secret that their goal for the 2008 season is to "play 11 games." That's another way of saying they want to win a playoff game, something the school hasn't accomplished since 1982.

And if that's to happen, the Maroons would be best served by not waiting until Week 10 to achieve their goal. The work happens now.

Here's why. If Central falls to unbeaten Decatur MacArthur on Friday at Tommy Stewart Field, it will fall to 3-2 with games remaining against Danville and Normal Community, two of the league's top teams. A loss in either game would give the Maroons three losses and thus ensure a very difficult road in the postseason. At 6-3, the Maroons would face a road game, perhaps against a team that's 8-1. That's too much to ask.

So the regular season is vital if the Maroons want to "play 11." Realistically, they need to finish no worse than 7-2 to put themselves in a reasonable position of expecting success in their playoff opener. Given how good Normal Community appears to be, the Maroons probably need to beat MacArthur and Danville (and rival Centennial) to finish 7-2. If there's not a sense of urgency on the Central sideline on Friday, something's wrong.

--The other local Big 12 game pits Centennial against Urbana, and both are desperate for a win. Both teams have faced tough early schedules, but the Tigers let one slip away against Mattoon last week. Both teams have been undone by turnovers at various times this season, and the team that eliminates those mistakes on Friday will have an edge.

If the Chargers win, they'll set up a Week 8 showdown in the Battle of Champaign for Twin City bragging rights.

I'll be at Central-MacArthur. Until then, enjoy your Friday night football.