Centralia Panthers football just knows how to win games and that's been evident in the history of the school and the recent history as the Panthers have won two of the last three Class 2-1A state titles and are the defending champions.

Panthers were thought to possibly see some early growing pains this season with many playmakers gone to graduation and needing a strong junior classes to take over the team and be the backbone of the squad. Well, if you consider giving up 16 points in a win over St. Mary's adversity than the Panthers faced it, because they haven't allowed more than eight points in a game since week one and have dominated all their opponents.

Centralia touts a defense that gives up 4.5 points per game, 130 yards per game on the season and has forced 20 turnovers this season. Panthers defense has pitched five shutouts this season, including last weeks stellar 28-0 win on the road at Olpe, whom the Panthers held to a total of 27 total yards of offense for the game.

On offense the Panthers don't really pass the ball to much but can if needed, just haven't needed to do so that much this season as the rushing attack of the junior duo of quarterback, JT Rosine and tailback, Sam Steinlage have accounted for 2,643 yards on the ground together this season with 47 TD's to go with that.

Panthers have faced some competition that is nothing to sniff at beating Class 3A schools, St. Mary's and Riley County, while outscoring all their opponents this season 481 to 50.

Centralia's opponent in the sub-state semifinal game the Lyndon Tigers, packs a potent defense also that has only given up 38 total points this season (3.5 ppg). Lyndon has cruised to a perfect 11-0 record this season just like Centralia but has six shutouts to their credit and has put 47.6 points per game this season (Centralia scored 43.7 ppg).

The Tigers are lead by a solid rushing attack like Centralia but do average 122 passing yards per game this season, also. Quarterback, Joe Walsh has thrown for 1,315 yards and 12 scores, while adding 677 yards on the ground. Senior tailback, Skylar Farwell leads the team in rushing with 1,149 yards and 24 TD's but he's complimented by junior, Jake Owens who has 696 yards and nine TD's. Farwell took over for Owens early on in the season when Owens went down with a knee injury.

These teams are familiar with each other as they've meet up in the playoffs before in 2009, 2008 and 2006. Centralia prevailed in 2009 (70-17) and 2008 (62-0), while Lyndon was victorious in 2006 (24-22).

Both teams come in a perfect 11-0 on the season packing stout defenses and heavy run first offenses, lending this one to be a physical war on the football field come Friday night.

For the Centralia Panthers they bring with the longest winning streak in the state which sits at 20 straight games as they look to return to Hays to defend their state title from last season.

Panthers play host on Friday night to the Tigers with kickoff at 7:00pm; broadcast starts with pregame at 6:30pm on 92.1 KMZA and online here at www.mscsports.net (click here to listen).