CLAFLIN — After a trio of comeback wins, Central Plains is accustomed to halftime adjustments. The Oilers (9-2) meet Clifton-Clyde (9-2) in Friday's Eight-Man Division 1 6 p.m. semifinal football game. The Oilers have won a pair of 8-Man state championships.
The Oilers rallied to beat Sylvan-Lucas 40-38, Chase County 58-52 and Little River 38-32 after trailing in every playoff game. The Oilers rely on the one-two running punch of Eli Hurley and Joel Schreiber with quarterback Brodie Crites creating a passing threat with receiver Paxton Dody. Hurley has been on fire during the playoff run.
Central Plains coach J.D. Johnson is pleased with the Oilers' fight.
"There's always things to correct. We keep things positive at halftime," Johnson said. "We're one or two plays away. We've got smart players who communicate with each other.
Clifton-Clyde is riding a 9-game winning streak after losing 70-34 to Frankfort and Hanover 50-0 to start the season. Quarterback Jack Skocny and back Trextin Koch are the top offensive threats. Skocny has rushed for 1,126 yards and 23 touchdowns and passed for 746 yards and 13 scores. Koch has rushed for 731 yards and 15 scores.
The Oilers own a size and weight advantage in the line. Johnson said Clifton-Clyde features a quick run-oriented offense that runs a spread offense that features Skocny as a run-pass threat. The Eagles are a finesse-style team with superior quickness.
"We've got a quality opponent coming to town Friday," Johnson said. "They have a athletic quarterback who's an all-state basketball player. He's an all-around athlete who runs speed option and run-pass option. We've got to pressure him and keep him contained. They're a quick team that swarm tackles."
Johnson said Clifton-Clyde's nose guard James Jarvis (5-9, 165) uses his quickness to disrupt the opponent's offense.
Head coach Chris Steiner led the to 8-Man state titles in 2014 and 2018. Head coach Gregg Webb led Claflin High School to state football titles in 1991, 1992, 1997, 1998 and 1999 along with legendary assistant coach Pat Stiles.
Clifton won the 1969 1A state football title. Clyde won the 1977 1A state football title. Clifton-Clyde won the 2008 2A state championship.
8 DIV. 1 CHAMPIONSHIP—Nov. 30 at Greensburg, 7 p.m.
SEMIFINALS—Clifton-Clyde 9-2 at Central Plains 9-2, 6 p.m.; Hoxie 11-0 at South Central 11-0, 6 p.m.
QUARTERFINALS—Central Plains 38, Little River 32; Clifton Clyde 46, Madison 0; South Central 60, Hill City 12; Hoxie 40, Leoti 30
SECOND ROUND—Little River 34, West Elk 14; Central Plains 58, Chase County 52; Madison 16, Ell-Saline 14; Clifton Clyde 44, Oswego 20; South Central 24, Rawlins County 6; Hill City 50, Sublette 22; Leoti 58, South Gray 0; Hoxie 54, Oxford 0
FIRST ROUND—West Elk 46, Northern Heights 0; Little River 42, Lincoln 40; Chase County 50, Sedan 0; Central Plains 40, Sylvan-Lucas 38 (OT); Ell-Saline 50, Rock Hills 0; Madison 54, Cedar Vale 14; Clifton Clyde 45, Solomon 0; Oswego 60, Lyndon 50; South Central 60, Spearville 6; Rawlins County 70, Ellis 38; Sublette 1, Skyline 0 (forfeit); Hill City 34, Trego 26; Leoti 54, Oberlin 0; South Gray 56, Kiowa County 28; Hoxie 52, La Crosse 0; Oxford 46, Kinsley 28
Clifton Clyde 14 0 8 3 — 25
Central Plains 0 6 16 6 — 28
CC—Trextin Koch 2 run (run fails); CC—Jack Skocny 60 run (Skocny run); CP—Eli Hurley 10 run (pass fails); CP—Aiden Hekele 11 pass from Brodie Crites (Joel Scheiber run); CC—Oliver Nobert 24 run (Skocny run); CP—Eli 1 run (Schreiber pass from Crites); CC—Oliver Nobert 21 FG; CP—Schreiber 26 pass from Crites (pass fails)
RUSHING—CC—43-203; Skocny 22-118, Koch 18-61; Oliver Nobert 2-30; team 1-(-6); CP—Schreiber 19-98; Crites 6-18; Hurley 11-16, Richard Stroud 1-1
PASSING—CC—Skocny, 5-9-1, 57; Oliver Nobert 1-1-0, 13; CP—Crites 11-21-0, 97
RECEIVING—CC—Oliver Norbert 3-48; Koch 1-13; Luke Nobert 1-9; CP—Aiden Hekele 4-49; Schreiber 3-39; Paxton Dody 2-9; Hurley 1-0
