Fairfield trying to avoid possible ?trap game? scenario

Friday?s matchup vs. Centerville has been sitting on the Trojans? schedule like a classic ?trap game.?

Hapless Centerville (1-5, 0-4 District 7) is hungry for a win, while Fairfield (4-2, 3-1) is coming off a disappointing 28-20 loss to Oskaloosa last week and has heavyweight Pella looming in Week 8.

Fairfield head coach Mike Schenck is very much aware of the scenario, and he knows his players need to be focused on the task at hand before they can look to Pella or the postseason.

?They know that [Centerville?s] back is against the wall, and they know that to have a shot at a district championship we have to win out,? Schenck said of his players. ?That means we can?t afford to overlook anybody.?

The scenario was largely the same for the Trojans coming into Week 7 last season ? Fairfield was coming off a close loss to Oskaloosa and had Pella looming ? and the Trojans had no trouble getting up for that game. Tanner Metcalf led the defense with seven tackles and a fumble recovery as Fairfield held the Big Reds to 120 total yards in a 53-0 win. On the offensive side, Zach Vivier, then a backup to Michael Hammes, rushed nine times for 76 yards and a touchdown. Metcalf gained 24 yards on the ground, and Justin Hammes scored a touchdown on 16 rushing yards. Dillon Fry also saw some of his first varsity action in the game, going 2-of-2 for 15 yards passing.

In tomorrow?s rematch, Fry?s quickness may prove to be a key to the Trojans? success against a 5-3 Centerville defense that attempts to smother quarterbacks. Fry also has been working on checkdown passes in preparation for Friday?s game, meaning leading receiver Davis Lowenberg could be in for another big game.

Add in the fact that the Centerville defense has allowed more than 43 points per game since Week 2, and it could be an end zone-heavy night for the Trojan offense.

On the opposite end, Centerville is simply looking to put some points on the board after failing to score the last two weeks against Keokuk and Pella.

In last week?s 41-0 loss to Keokuk, Centerville sophomore quarterback Michael Starcevich was 4-of-16 for 71 yards passing with two interceptions. With a rushing game that averages 2.3 yards per carry, the Big Reds will need more consistency from Starcevich this week.

Perhaps the hardest test for Fairfield is preparing for the numerous offensive sets Centerville likes to run, including the shotgun, split backs and power I formations.

?[Centerville has] nothing to lose,? said Schenck. ?So we might see a lot of crazy things offensively from them, and if they don?t work, they don?t work.?

It hasn?t helped that a case of strep throat has stymied preparation and forced seven starters to miss practices earlier this week, according to Schenck. All players out sick were back on Wednesday except for Lowenberg, though the tight end/defensive end is expected to be ready by game time. The only starter undoubtedly sidelined this week is Tyler Cooksey, who is recovering from a concussion.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Centerville.