The Wildcats are guaranteed at least a share of the title, which will be their first since 2013 and 13th overall. They’re a lock for their 10th playoff appearance, sitting at No. 1 in the Division III, Region 12 Harbin computer rankings that send the top eight to the postseason.
“It’s a special opportunity for our kids to get to play a game like this, to have at least part of a championship with a chance to finish 10-0,” Childers said. “Anything can happen, but we are focused on playing up to our potential. If we play to our potential, we are a really good football team. We just have to execute and focus on what we’re doing right now, to focus on the moment. We don’t talk about anything else.”
Meanwhile, Brookville also has plenty to play for with a playoff spot on the line. The Blue Devils currently are seventh in Division V, Region 20, and likely can’t afford another defeat.
They are coming off a 38-20 loss to Valley View last week.
Just last year, Brookville was sitting in Franklin’s position and managed to stretch the unbeaten streak to 12-0 with a pair of postseason wins before falling to Coldwater in the regional final.
“They are a very good football team,” Childers said. “We have to get better, fine-tune some details and get on that bus ready to execute. We know they are going to come off the football, and we have to stay on our blocks through the whistle, and defensively, we have to stop the run.”
That will be the key almost certainly. Franklin showed last week in a 66-48 win over pass-happy Oakwood that it can keep up with just about anyone offensively, as Ryan Montgomery rushed for 187 yards and added 151 yards receiving, and Braden White threw for 378 yards. Montgomery needs 259 yards rushing and two touchdowns to break school records in both categories.
It’s the defense that needs a little work, however, Brookville brings more of a smashmouth mentality that Franklin prefers. SWBL-leading rusher Bailey Wallen will put that to the test — he enters with 1,472 yards and 22 touchdowns.
“We know we can score from anywhere on the field and have a lot of threats, but as a defense we have to get stops,” Childers said. “We have to put Brookville in second-and-longs, third-and-longs, and make them uncomfortable. They are going to try to control the football and try to keep us off the field, so we can’t let them do that. We have to tackle better – that’s going to be the key to capture a special winning season.”
Friday’s game
What: Franklin (9-0, 5-0 SWBL Southwestern) at Brookville (5-4, 2-3 SWBL Southwestern), 7 p.m.
Where: Brookville Memorial Stadium, 75 June Place, Brookville
Last meeting: Brookville won 28-7 in 2015
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