Sports
Philo Needs Win Over New Lexington and Help for Playoffs
By: Taylor Jedrzejek
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The 2017 regular season has reached its final chapter, and for many teams, this week will determine whether or not they get to continue their story into November.
Philo is one of those teams.
The Electrics (6-3, 5-2 Muskingum Valley League) enter week 10 on the brink of making the postseason with an eighth place ranking in Region 15, narrowly edging out Unioto for the final playoff spot.
Needing to win to make the postseason cut, Philo travels to New Lexington.
The Panthers (3-6, 3-4 MVL) have struggled in recent weeks, losing five of their last six games and have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. But that doesn’t mean they can’t play spoiler to the Electrics.
To pull of the upset on Friday night, New Lexington will have to replicate the defensive performance they turned in three weeks ago against Crooksville. The Panther defense held the Ceramics to just 13 points that night, well below their season average of 28.3 points against.
However, Philo has defeated New Lexington the past two seasons with neither game being particularly close. The Electrics, who are coming off a 52-0 drubbing of Morgan last week, don’t control their own destiny for a playoff berth, but a win would get them closer to locking down a trip to the postseason.
But even with a win, the Electrics may need some help.
There is currently three spots still available in Region 15 and six teams that have a mathematical chance to fill them. And all six of them fall into a range that spans less than three points.
The best chance for Philo to get some help in the standing may come from 9-0 Indian Valley. The Braves play host to 8-1 Claymont, who currently holds the 7th seed in Region 15.
But the Electrics have to help themselves before they can rely on others to help them reach Week 11.