The Todd County Central Rebels will be facing a huge challenge and taking on history as they begin the Class 2A playoffs Friday night. The Rebels are on the road to take on Mayfield at War Memorial Stadium at 7pm.
The meeting will be only the fourth in the last quarter century between the two teams, with the Cardinals dominating the previous three. In fact, the Rebels have not scored more than seven points in any of the previous meetings.
In 2017, Todd Central dropped a 55-0 decision at Mayfield. That Mayfield team would reach the state finals before falling to Danville in the championship game. The Rebel offense that night could not get much going as the Mayfield defense limited the Rebels to just 95 yards in total offense.
The 2015 season saw the teams again meet in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs. The Cardinals, who would go on to win the state championship, picked up a 41-7 win on their home field. Again, it was the Mayfield defense shutting the Rebels down, holding Todd Central to just 91 yards in the contest.
In 1999, both teams were playing in Class A, and it was once again a first-round playoff matchup between the two squads. Mayfield would advance with a 49-7 win over the Rebels.
This year’s Mayfield team enters the game at 10-0, having given up just 8.1 points per game while scoring at a 44.0 per game clip. In eight of their games, the Cardinals have limited an opponent to ten points or less.
Mayfield is a deep team on offense. Four ball carriers have at least 100 yards on the season, led by Jutarious Starks with 732 yards and 12 touchdowns. Mehki Dumas has run for 328 yards and five scores.
Quarterback Zane Cartwright has completed 88 of 137 passes for 1376 yards and 17 touchdowns with just three interceptions.
Cartwright’s leading receiver is Brajone Dabney with 29 catches for 427 yards and 8 touchdowns. Isaac Stevenson has 564 yards on 25 catches for six touchdowns.
The Cardinals have six players that have scored at least 30 points on the season.
Todd Central is led by running back Jamarion Smith, who has 1048 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season.
Quarterback Gavyn Nolan has passed for 1319 yards and 12 scores, with his favorite target being Nate Reding, who has caught 48 passes for 679 yards and five touchdowns.
Nolan has also rushed for 641 yards.
The winner of the Todd Central-Mayfield game will take on the winner of the game between Murray and Butler County in the second round.
