Central senior running back primed for postseason; Tigers entertain Quapaw tonight

So far, the Central Tigers have enjoyed perfection — at least as their overall record is concerned, finishing the regular season at 10-0.

“It’s been super exciting,” Central senior running back Coy Blackburn said about the unblemished regular-season record. “We’ve definitely have put in the work these last three years. I’m just super happy and ready to continue the season.”

However, the perfect regular season also brought along some history as the Tigers not only won the District A-8 title but in so doing won the first 11-man district championship for the program. “That’s the exciting part,” Blackburn said. “It’s been very exciting. They gave us (commemorative) shirts. You get to walk around knowing that you’re a part of history. Everybody can see that.” However, now the second season — the Class A playoffs — have arrived. The Tigers will entertain the Quapaw Wildcats (7-3) at 7 tonight at Tiger Stadium.

When the same two teams met in the Class A playoff opener last year at Quapaw, the ’Cats prevailed 28-22. Blackburn would like nothing more than to avenge that loss tonight.

“Probably the best part about it is we’re playing Quapaw,” he said. “That’s who we played last year. We’ve been waiting all year for them. It’s definitely going to be exciting.”

By being a district champion, a district champion can have as many as the first two playoff games at their friendly confines. However, this year has a unique twist to it. On the Class A playoff bracket, the home team in each match-up is on the top line. Should the Tigers win their first two home playoff games at Tiger Stadium, they’ll get a third home game for the Class A state quarterfinals.

“That makes me feel good knowing that because you’re going to have all your crowd and hometown backing you up,” Blackburn said about all the home postseason games available for the Tigers. “That’s going to be the best part about it — just the atmosphere (at Tiger Stadium).”

Currently, the Tigers are five wins from a state title — which just so happens would coincide with a perfect season at 15-0. All that excites the senior running back.

“We’ll feel like kings,” Blackburn said. “We’re absolutely looking forward to it.”