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OLD WASHINGTON -- The Ohio postseason kicks off in two weeks and, barring something epic, the River Pilots will be part of the Division VI, Region 23 field.
But don't talk to Mike Flannery about the playoffs. Not yet anyway. His focus is completely on Buckeye Trail, the team his unbeaten Pilots visit Friday night at 7.
And for good reason.
The Warriors, at 5-3, have postseason aspirations of their own. After dropping two of its last three, first-year Trail head coach Donnie Kerns said his team is again relatively healthy and ready to spar with their neighbors from Monroe County in what's the regular-season finale at the Baker Activities Complex.
''Our kids are focused,'' Kerns said. ''We completely understand the task at hand. If we want any shots at the playoffs we have to win this game. So, we've put our kids in playoff mode. The unfortunate thing for us is (Lukas) Isaly is in the way, and we have to find a way overcome him because he's pretty good.''
That's true.
Isaly, Kerns believes, is the glue that holds River's offense together. The numbers back that statement up.
Through eight games, Isaly, a junior, has rushed for 886 yards and 19 touchdowns and thrown for 1,263 yards and 12 scores.
''They have so many athletes,'' Kerns acknowledged. ''Isaly, (Parker) Caretti, (Drew) Dietz, and others. We think everything goes through Isaly, so that's going to be our focus. Can we take Isaly away? No one has been able to do it this year?
''If we can do it, I like our chances. If we can't, it might be another shootout like we had against Barnesville.''
The aforementioned Caretti and Dietz are keys for the Pilots, as are the boys along the offensive line. All told, everything has added up to an 8-0 mark for River, currently No. 1 in the regional computer ratings.
''We've been looking to get better everyday in practice,'' Flannery said. ''You find a weakness and you work on it. That's what we did (Monday) night. You just hope you get better at this stage knowing where you might end up. You want to have a lot of tools in the tool box. What I mean is we have a lot of skilled athletes and we have to find ways to get them the football.''
The Pilots did that last week in rallying to beat Toronto in the Gem City. In was another in a series of tests the Pilots have passed this season.
''That was a complement to our kids,'' Flannery said of the victory. ''We overcame a lot of adversity.''
And in Trail, Flannery expects another challenge.
''I think they're going to be healthy and ready to play their best game against us,'' he said. ''They'll bring their 'A' game. Donnie has taken that program and done a very good job with it.
''Believe me, we're not looking past them. There's a lot of talk about playoffs and this and that, but we're looking at Buckeye Trail. The good thing about (my team) is they understand the next step and the next step is Buckeye Trail.''
After dropping its opener vs. Ridgewood, the Warriors reeled off four straight victories, capped by comebacks vs. Barnesville and Meadowbrook. But after that, Trail hit roadblocks against Shenandoah and Fort Frye.
The Warriors are sixth in Division VII, Region 27.
''I think we kind of lost our edge after the Meadowbrook game,'' Kerns said. ''But, it's back. Practices have been good this week.''
The Warriors got back in the win column last week vs. winless West Muskingum without quarterback Troy Pontius. Kerns said Pontius injured his ankle the previous week against Fort Frye and was held out as a precaution. He'll be back in the lineup this week, as will Austin Snodgrass and Carter Streiff, who've also been battling injuries.
''They're all threats, so we'll have to find ways to take away what they do best and, hopefully, we can do that,'' Flannery said. ''Our best defense against them is to hold the ball and sustain drives and move the chains because they're a threat anytime they have the ball.''
Pontius and Snodgrass has rushed for 784 yards (13 TDs) and 512 yards (10 TDs), respectively. Pontius has thrown for 644 yards in even games.