Andrew Grimm TAKING THE FIELD AGAIN — The Toronto football team had some big road wins this year and will look for another tonight as they travel to West Jefferson in the second round of the playoffs.

WEST JEFFERSON — A big second quarter offensively sparked the Toronto football team to a big win last week in its playoff opener, and the Red Knights are looking to build off that moment this week in the next round.

After a scoreless first quarter, sixth-seeded Toronto totaled 28 points in the second quarter and did not look back en route to defeating No. 11 seed Grandview Heights, 41-0, on an Ohio Division VI, Region 23 first round game last Friday night at home at Clarke Hinkle Field.

“It was a nice atmosphere,” Toronto (10-1) head coach Jaret Aubiel said. “The kids played really well. They executed the gameplan. All the credit goes to the kids and the coaching staff. The team was well prepared, and it showed Friday night.”

The boys from Jefferson County shook off the slow start and ended up defeating the Bobcats via the mercy rule.

“It took us a little longer than we wanted to get our offense going, but once that happened, we rode the momentum the rest of the night,” Aubiel said.

The boys from Franklin County had some weapons on offense, however, the boys from the Gem City were able to neutralize them on their way to a shutout.

“The kids played really physical,” Aubiel said. “Conditioning and physicality are two things we have stressed all season. Now, it is on to West Jefferson.”

With the win, Toronto has advance to take on No. 3 seed West Jefferson in a regional quarterfinal at 7 p.m. tonight out at Kile Field. The Red Knights will have a three-hour trip to take on the Rough Riders (9-1).

West Jefferson received a bye in the first round.

“It’s a situation where we think our people will come out and support us,” Aubiel said. “It is a cool opportunity for the kids to travel for a playoff game. We are not looking at it as a negative, we are looking at it as a positive. It is a pretty cool opportunity for the kids.”

The trip will be the longest one the locals have had to make so far this season.

“We are definitely going to do some things different with our preparation,” Aubiel said. 

The boys from Madison County do a lot of damage through the air.

“They are a very good passing team,” Aubiel said. “Their quarterback has thrown for 3,000 yards. They are going to be a big challenge for us.”

Individually for West Jefferson, senior quarterback Austin Buescher has completed 228 of 342 passes for 3,138 yards and 28 touchdowns to go along with two interceptions. Buescher is also the team’s leading rusher as he has amassed 375 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground on 89 carries. Buescher has thrown for more than 11,000 yards in his illustrious career.

Also on the ground, Wade Reeve has delivered 260 yards and five touchdowns on 69 carries, Braxton Vance has collected 148 yards and seven touchdowns on 29 carries and Blake Hundley has tallied 171 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.

Jackson Beatty has tallied 52 catches for 860 yards and seven touchdowns, Ethan Friessen finished the regular season with 56 catches for 670 yards and five touchdowns and Vance ended the regular season with 42 catches for 524 yards and seven touchdowns. Also, Reeve has recorded 29 receptions for 393 yards and five touchdowns, Jeremy Jester contributed 25 catches for 300 yards and one touchdown, while Evan Switalski snagged 18 catches for 310 yards and three touchdowns.

Jaxon Bare has converted 46-of-51 extra points on the season, and he is 1-for-3 on field goal attempts with the field goal coming from 26 tards away.

“Offensively for us, they have a stout defensive line,” Aubiel said. “Their secondary is fast. They have a lot of speed. They are going to be a challenge for us.”

The Rough Riders opened the season with seven-straight wins as West Jefferson defeated Amanda-Clearcreek (5-6), 27-20, Newark Catholic (2-8), 55-13, Greenon (6-4), 24-21, Cedarville (6-5), 62-26, Springfield Catholic Central (4-6), 41-7, Northeastern (9-1), 42-36, in overtime and Triad (0-10), 55-7. Mechanisburg (8-2) defeated West Jefferson, 21-14, in Week 8 before WJ defeated West Liberty-Salem (5-6), 20-7, and Fairbanks (3-7), 49-6, to close out the regular season.

“It’s something we have not seen a whole lot,” Aubiel said about the Rough Riders’ potent passing attack. “We are going to have to be prepared Friday night.”

Winning the line of scrimmage will be important for the visitors to have success in the game.

“They have got some big kids, and we have got some big kids,” Aubiel said. “I think it is pretty even size-wise.”

The forecast is calling for rain. Kile Field is a grass field. 

“That is something we are going to prepare for in practice,” Aubiel said. “We can’t control the weather. We can only control our preparation.”

After defeating, Wickliffe, 33-31, in the first round at home last season, Toronto lost a heartbreaker to Springfield, 29-28, in the quarterfinals. The Red Knights are using last season’s loss as a source of motivation this season.

“That is something we have discussed with the kids,” Aubiel said. “We told them to remember how they felt after the New Middletown Springfield game. We want to use that going into this game.”

West Jefferson did not qualify for the playoffs last season as the Rough Riders ended the season with a record of 3-7.

The winner of this game will play the winner of tonight’s game between No. 2 seed Fort Frye and No. 10 seed Caldwell in the regional semifinals Friday night.