Seniors Gabe Mata (71), Charlie Schmitz (21) and the Spartans celebrated a win #9 over Paxton-Buckley-Loda at Dick Duval Field on Friday. The St. Joseph-Ogden football team will be back on their home turf on Saturday for their first-round playoff game against 5-4 West Frankfort.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
ST. JOSEPH - The St. Joseph-Ogden football team is set to host West Frankfort in the opening round of the Class 3A football playoffs this Saturday at 2 p.m. at Dick Duval Field. The Spartans, coming off a strong regular season, will face a Redbirds team that fought its way into the postseason after a pivotal Week 9 win over Sparta. This marks West Frankfort's first playoff appearance in five years, entering the matchup with a 5-4 record. West Frankfort, a bubble team for much of the season, secured its playoff berth with a dominant 50-14 victory over Sparta, where the Redbirds tallied 518 total yards, including 367 on the ground from 41 carries. Led by standout running back Travion Johnson, West Frankfort has shown an explosive rushing attack that could pose a challenge for SJO's defense. Johnson had a career night in Week 4 against Pinckneyville, rushing for 334 yards and five touchdowns on just 20 carries. His ability to break off big plays, including runs of 67 and 80 yards, has been a key factor in the Redbirds’ offensive success. In addition to Johnson, the Redbirds have several other contributors in the ground game. Jace Bennett, Lucas Parker, and Chace Patterson have all made significant impacts in the running game, as West Frankfort piled up 520 rushing yards in their Week 4 win over Pinckneyville. Parker, who serves as the team's quarterback, adds versatility to the offense, having completed 11 of 14 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown in the Redbirds' win over Sparta. His ability to balance the offense with a passing threat will be critical for West Frankfort as they prepare to face SJO's defense.
8/30 Frankfort vs Massac County 51-14
9/6 Frankfort vs Herrin 34-12
9/13 Frankfort vs Carterville 16-21
9/20 Frankfort vs Pinckneyville 61-34
9/27 Frankfort vs Nashville 6-24
10/4 Frankfort vs Duquoin 18-39
10/11 Frankfort vs Benton 18-62
10/18 Frankfort vs Anna-Jonesboro 40-20
10/25 Frankfort vs Sparta 50-14
Paxton-Buckley-Loda's Rolen Edison tries to block SJO's Cameron Wagner during their Week 9 Illini Prairie Conference game. St. Joseph-Ogden's offensive and defensive lines benefit from size, speed, and tenacity.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
On offense, the Spartans will test the Redbirds’ defense early, looking to exploit weaknesses that were exposed in losses to teams like Benton and Duquoin. With a balanced attack, SJO will aim to control the tempo and keep West Frankfort’s playmakers off the field. For St. Joseph-Ogden, after losing 75 yards in penalties in the season finale against Paxton-Buckley-Loda on Friday, this first-round matchup presents an opportunity to set the tone for their playoff run and prepare for their next opponent, the winner of the matchup between Roxana and Unity in week 2. "This may sound funny, but it was like we were trying too hard," said head coach Shawn Skinner, addressing the penalties SJO accrued. "I thought as a defense, we were trying too hard. You want to play fast, but you don't want to play in a hurry." He thought his team was "collectively" hurrying too much instead of playing fast with controlled purpose. "We had our moments when we shot ourselves in the foot. We'll make sure we'll correct it," he said. The Redbirds finished fourth in the Southern Illinois River-to-River (Mississippi) Conference with a 2-3 record, marking a modest improvement for a team that hasn’t seen much playoff success. Historically, West Frankfort has made only 10 playoff appearances since 1920, making this postseason run a significant achievement for the program. However, their inconsistent play against higher-level competition raises questions about their ability to sustain success in the playoffs.
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