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DANVILLE -- The third-seeded Toronto football team faces its stiffest test of the season this week against No. 2 seed Danville in a regional semifinal.
The Red Knights are scheduled to meet the undefeated Blue Devils in an Ohio Division VII, Region 27 Semifinal at 7 p.m. Friday night out at Tough Street Stadium.
Danville is one of the top teams in the division as well being one of the top teams in the state.
“You see that especially when you watch film,” Toronto (10-1) head coach Jaret Aubiel said. “There are no weaknesses on their team. All 11 guys on offense are very good. All 11 guys on defense are very good. They’re very good, they’re tough, they’re physical and they’re fast. They are the total package.”
The Red Knights advanced to the regional semifinal last week as Toronto toppled No. 6 seed Strasburg, 20-13, in a regional quarterfinal last Friday night at home at Clarke Hinkle Field.
“Survive and advance, that’s what it is all about,” Aubiel said. “As ugly as the game was Friday night, we found a way to get the win. Five of our wins this season have come in one-score games. We want to keep it close at the end and give ourselves a shot.”
The boys from Jefferson County picked up close wins this season against Newcomerstown (27-20), Brookfield (7-6), Tuslaw (29-28), Cameron (28-21) and Strasburg.
On the other side, Danville (11-0) defeated No. 10 seed Lucas, 34-0, via mercy rule in its quarterfinal at home. Ten of the Blue Devils’ 11 wins this season have ended with a running clock in effect.
Danville has scored 508 points this season for an average of more than 46 points per game. The 34 points scored by the Blue Devils last week is the fewest points the team has scored so far this season. The team has scored 52 or more points four times with a season-high 57 points scored in Week 6.
“They can do both,” Aubiel said. “They are very good in the running game, and they are very good in the passing game. They are balanced. We are going to have our hands full. We are excited about the challenge.”
Defensively, the Blue Devils have only allowed 51 points for an average of less than five points per game. The boys from Knox County have only allowed six points in the last five weeks, and they have not allowed a point in the last three.
“Defensively, they fly to the football,” Aubiel said. “Their safeties are very good. They do a good job against the running game. Their defensive line is very good. They are very good in all three phases of their defense.”
The boys from Jefferson County have experience playing on the road as this will be their sixth road game of the season.
“We have had a few long trips this season,” Aubiel said. “That will definitely help us.”
The Blue-and-White’s biggest margin of victory this season is 55 points, while the smallest is 26 points.
“They are very good in all three phases of the game,” Aubiel said. “They are balanced. We saw them block a lot of punts on film, so that is going to be a point of emphasis for us all week.”
During the regular season, Danville defeated Dalton (48-12), Utica (39-13), Monroeville (38-0), Fredericktown (52-7), Mount Gilead (43-13), Northmor (57-7), Loudonville (55-0), Cardington Lincoln (52-6), Centerburg (48-0) and East Knox (42-0).
“We are going to have to score more points,” Aubiel said. “We can’t turn the ball over, and we have to be able to sustain drives.”
This is the first time Toronto has made a regional semifinal since the playoffs expanded to 16 teams and then back down to 12. The Red Knights last won a regional semifinal and advanced to the regional final in 2000 when Bob Morris was the head coach of the team.
“We talked a little bit about that today,” Aubiel said. “These kids have the chance to be one of the best Toronto teams ever.”
The winner of this week’s playoff game will play in the regional final at 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at a site to be announced against the winner of the other semifinal between No. 1 seed Symmes Valley and No. 5 seed Shadyside.
The Blue Devils were the No. 11 seed in the playoffs last season, however, Danville advanced to the regional final before losing to No. 1 seed Hillsdale, 25-20. Along the way, Danville defeated Catholic Central, 54-0, Fisher Catholic, 59-8, and Waterford, 19-13.