Crestview ready for playoff challenge

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

After wrapping up a 7-3 (4-3 NWC) regular season, the Crestview Knights are playoff bound for the fourth consecutive season.

The No. 6-seeded Knights will take on the No. 3 seed Tiffin Calvert Senecas in Division VII, Region 26, quarterfinal action Saturday night at Frost-Kalnow Stadium in Tiffin.

The winner will advance to the regional semifinals, and will play Arlington or Lucas.

Crestview is one of four Northwest Conference teams to qualify for the OHSAA postseason (Delphos Jefferson, Spencerville, and Ada are the others), and Head Coach Jared Owens believes tough conference play has prepared the Knights for playoff action.

“We feel like we played against some really good offenses and defenses, and we had to prepare for many different styles of offense and defense,” Owens said. “I think these are two factors that help us feel more prepared going into Week 11.”

Crestview quarterback Drew Kline had an impressive regular season, going 74-of-147 passing for 1,261 yards, 15 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. His favorite target has been wide receiver Chase Clark (24 catches for 374 yards and four TDs).

Along with nearly 1,300 yards passing, Kline rushed 144 times for 1,171 yards and 21 touchdowns, while running backs Luke Gerardot and Trevor Gibson chipped in with 496 and 465 yards, respectively.  Before suffering a foot injury early in the season, Payton Knittle rushed for 344 yards. Knittle may play Saturday night.

Owens said the key to the team’s success has been the offensive line, made up of tackles Nick Henry and Braden Brecht, guards Joel Germann and Emilio DeLeon, center Braden Sellers, and tight ends Braden Van Cleave and Tyler Riggenbach, along with Dylan Hicks, who has played multiple positions up front.

“These guys have been so consistent with their effort and execution each game this year,” Owens said. “They have learned to communicate really well with each other and play physical football.”

Much like the Crestview Knights, the Calvert Senecas (6-3, 4-0 SBC River Division) will come into Saturday’s playoff game battle-tested.

Calvert’s three losses came to teams with a combined 27-3 record — Swanton, Norwalk St. Paul, and Seneca East. The Senecas also played an eight-man game against Fostoria St. Wendelin and won 77-14, but the game isn’t reflected in the final OHSAA standings.

“Calvert runs a three and four wide receiver spread offense and their quarterback (Park Hemminger, 1,500 yards passing, 19 touchdowns, five interceptions) throws the ball on time and is an accurate passer,” Owens said. “They also have some size on their offensive line, and defensively they play hard and get to the football well.”

It’s the sixth consecutive season the Senecas have qualified for the playoffs.

Saturday’s playoff game kicks off at 7 p.m., and can be heard live on WKSD 99.7 FM, www.wert1220.com and streaming live on The Van Wert independent (www.thevwindependent.com).