Playoff football started a week early for both Centralia and Rock Creek as both teams needed a win in week nine to earn a spot in the Class 3A playoffs this year, but finishing at the District two runner-up. The Panthers welcomed the Mustangs to town and after a close first half the Centralia would go on to win 32-18. 

Each team started the contest with solid defensive stands and it was the Panthers who broke through first with about 3:32 left in the first quarter John Johnson found pay-dirt from 29-yards out on the run and the Centralia lead 6-0, after a blocked PAT. 

Rock Creek answered with a huge kickoff return to set them up on the Centralia 24-yard line and few plays later the Mustangs visited the endzone for the first time in the game scoring a eight-yard touchdown run by Carson Becker and with the PAT hitting the crossbar it was tied at 6-6 with 2:59 left in the first quarter. 

It was would be Rock Creek again finding the endzone next as they scored with 7:27 left in the first half making it 12-6 after the two-point conversion was unsuccessful and Avery Ebert had scored a five-yard run. Centralia pushed back and moved the ball down the field getting into the redzone and had a fourth and goal from the eight, when Braden Deters it Trenton Stallbaumer for an eight-yard touchdown pass and with the PAT good from Otto Nermo the Panthers held a 13-12 lead. 

After strong defensive set by the Panthers they had a little time just before half time to strike again but a couple of penalties foiled that opportunity and Centralia went into the half up 13-12. 

Coming out of the half Centralia's defense continued his strong showing and kept hitting Rock Creek in the mouth the rest of the game, while picking up the offense, too. The Panthers added to their lead as Deters hit Stallbaumer for a 19 yard touchdown pass in the third quarter and John Johnson busted off a 37-yard touchdown run early in the fourth and Deters added a one-yard touchdown run also. 

Rock Creek got touchdown with 4:08 remaining as Jackson Fike found Becker on a five-yard pass but it was a little to late as the Panthers would run on the clock after recovering the onside kick from the Mustangs, earning Centralia the 32-18 win and a playoff spot. 

Centralia finished the night with 351 yards of total offense with John Johnson leading the charge with 227 yards on 24 carries with two scores, while Bryson Johnson added 38 yards on 10 carries. Deters finished with 10 carries for 23 yards and a score, while going 5-9 for 63 yards and two touchdowns to Stallbaumer. John Johnson and Ryan Vernon, who had a strong defensive game earned Co-Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on KMZA, as the Panthers improved to 5-4 on the season. 

The Mustangs were led by Becker who ran for 74 yards on 17 carries on the evening as Rock Creek ends their season with a 3-6 record. 

The Panthers will turn around and play Tuesday, November 3rd in the opening round of the 3A playoffs at Sabetha who won District one.