The playoffs started two weeks early for the Charleston Trojans.  

After a 45-34 win over Jersey Community High School to improve to 3-0, Charleston had high hopes of an Apollo Conference championship.  

However, after four straight conference losses, the Trojans (3-4, 0-4) are faced with a challenge: they must win their final two games to have a chance at making the postseason.  

It just so happens though, that Friday at Trojan Hill, Charleston hosts the Taylorville Tornados (3-4, 2-2), a team with the exact same record and challenge.  

“If we’re gonna have aspirations to get into the postseason, we’re gonna have to beat a team like this,” head coach Brian Halsey said. “There’s no more ‘oops’ or excuses, we got to win” 

Not only do Charleston need to win out, but the Trojans need a little help too. As it stands, the Trojans have the weakest schedule of the teams that are currently 3-4 in the 4A class. Strength of schedule is determined by opponent wins, and Charleston currently has 24 opponent wins.  

While there is no hard cutoff for how many teams can make the playoffs, roughly the top 32 make it. That’s subject to change for the Illinois High School Association to fill the 256 team bracket which is divided per class into eight 32 team brackets.  

As things currently stand, Charleston sits in 38th place.  

Taylorville is just three places above Charleston and sits at 33 opponent wins.  

Halsey says both teams will treat this like a playoff game.  

“We’re gonna fight,” Halsey said. “We’re going to do everything we can [to win].” 

Taylorville has been dealing with “must win” games for the past two weeks. The Tornados beat Effingham 42-41 in overtime in week six and eliminated Mattoon from playoff contention last week with a 21-7 win.  

Taylorville is led offensively by senior quarterback Baron Odam, the son of head coach Jeb Odam. Baron Odam is the leading rusher for the Tornados, with 394 yards on 79 rushing attempts. Taylorville will design lots of running plays for him, but he’s also willing to scramble out of a collapsing pocket.  

The Tornadoes also get lots of ground production from junior running back Owen Mateer, who is the team’s other main option on the ground.  

Charleston was able to stop Taylorville last year, holding them to seven points in a 55-7 win which clinched a playoff spot. Halsey said the Trojans felt good about the game plan last season, but that Taylorville are a different team from a year later.  

“We try to put kids in the right position, and it’s going to come down to execution,” Halsey said. “I’m sure [Odam] is going to hurt us here and there, but we just can’t let it be a continual thing.” 

Defensively, stopping the run and limiting big plays are the big keys to a win. Offensively, Halsey says the Trojans must move the ball down field and limit mistakes.  

“We can’t turn [the ball] over like we did at Mattoon, and we certainly can’t have silly penalties,” Halsey said.  

Charleston will honor its seniors before the game, which is set to kick off at 7 p.m. at Trojan Hill.  

Gabe Newman can be reached at 581-2812 or at ghnewman@eiu.edu.