A lot at stake for Tigers on Friday night

Nevada Coach Wes Beachler talks to his team after a win over William Chrisman earlier this season. Jason Peake/Daily Mail file photo

By Jason Peake

Daily Mail Sports Editor

NEVADA -- Two teams fighting for their playoff lives will clash on Friday night at Logan Field.

The Nevada High School football team will host Clinton at 7 p.m. in the second district contest of the season.

And after losing the first district game last Friday at Pleasant Hill, the Tigers need a win if they want to advance to the playoffs.

But Nevada Coach Wes Beachler isn't looking ahead to possible playoff scenarios just yet.

"We're just preparing for another game," Beachler said. "We just focus on the current week's opponent. We're looking to execute well against Clinton and come out on the right end of the scoreboard. That's our focus."

Nevada is coming off a 28-7 loss at Pleasant Hill and is now 5-3 overall and 0-1 in the District 12 play. An 0-2 start in district play would wipe out any hope for a postseason berth for the Tigers.

Nevada's last playoff appearance came in 1998.

Of course, this year's group of Tigers have snapped a long losing streak, put together a five-game winning streak and have brought back a lot of excitement for NHS football.

A playoff appearance would be a final exclamation point on the program's turnaround.

Beachler acknowledged his team would love to be in the playoffs, but once again said he didn't want to look too far ahead.

"It's still out there for them," Beachler said. "But if Clinton beats us, we're done. So we have to be focused on this week's opponent... Clinton."

For the Clinton Cardinals, a win would all but lock up a playoff appearance after they won their first district game 35-24 over Holden.

Clinton is also 5-3 on the season overall. Beachler said the Cardinals have some players who possess big-play potential.

"To some degree, they're explosive," he said.

Clinton used a couple of big plays to get past Holden, including a 99-yard run by quarterback Chris Sidfrid. The Cardinals also used a long kickoff return for a touchdown.

"They didn't pound the ball down the field for three or four yards at a time," Beachler said. "They used big plays. They have a big-play offense."

Gabe Suthoff is another player to watch for Clinton. Suthoff has scored 13 touchdowns this season. Nick Ramirez is another threat. He's scored 10 touchdowns.

For the Nevada defense, limiting the big plays will be a key.

"We need to understand where everyone's supposed to be and each player needs to do his own job on each play," Beachler said. "We need to be consistent on offense and we have to execute."

For the Nevada offense, the Tigers need to sustain drives and convert more third down opportunities than they did at Pleasant Hill.

"I think we have to do what we do from start to finish and from one end of the field to the other," Beachler said.

As far as Clinton's defense, Beachler gave them credit.

"Defensively, they're pretty disciplined. They react well to the ball."

Clinton is scoring 32.1 points per game, while Nevada is scoring 19 points per game. Clinton has scored 257 total points this season and allowed 153. Nevada has scored 151 and allowed 159.

As Friday's important showdown arrives, Beachler did not want to call it a must-win situation.

"It's a must-execute game," Beachler said. "We just have to execute. We need to play better than we did last week on both sides of the ball."

Class 3, District 12 standings

Friday, Oct. 14 scores

Pleasant Hill 28, Nevada 7

Clinton 35, Holden 24

Friday, Oct. 21 games

Clinton at Nevada

Pleasant Hill at Holden

Thursday, Oct. 27 games

Nevada at Holden

Clinton at Pleasant Hill

Clinton's season

Beat Northeast 67-8

Lost to O'Hara 28-14

Beat St. Pius X 41-35

Lost to Center 23-20

Beat Smith-Cotton 38-7

Lost to Warrensburg 21-14

Beat Versailles 28-7

Beat Holden 35-24.

Nevada's season

Lost to Warrensburg 27-18

Lost to Seneca 40-0

Beat East Newton 22-17

Beat Springfield Central 36-6

Beat El Dorado Springs 8-0

Beat William Chrisman 29-22

Beat McDonald County 31-19

Lost to Pleasant Hill 28-7.