CENTRALIA, Ill. — The Mt. Zion Braves will look to keep their postseason run alive Friday night when they travel to face the undefeated Centralia Orphans in the second round of the IHSA Class 4A football playoffs.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Evers Field in Centralia.
Mt. Zion (8-2) enters the matchup riding a five-game winning streak after surviving a 35-29 battle with Decatur MacArthur in the opening round. The Braves will now face their toughest postseason test yet against a Centralia squad that has put together a historic 10-0 campaign.
The Orphans have been dominant throughout the season, averaging 45.7 points per game while allowing just 13.9. Centralia opened the playoffs with a convincing 49-13 victory over Civic Memorial, powered by a standout performance from senior running back Ja’Shawn Staples.
Staples rushed for 239 yards and four touchdowns in the victory, including explosive scoring runs of 75 and 99 yards. Junior quarterback Archie Goewey, the son of head coach Brad Goewey, also delivered an efficient performance, completing 14 of 18 passes with two touchdowns.
Centralia is enjoying one of the most successful seasons in program history. The Orphans entered the year having never recorded an 11-win season and are seeking their first trip to the state quarterfinals since the inaugural IHSA playoffs in 1974.
The undefeated campaign has also come during a year of transition for Centralia, which departed the South Seven Conference after 87 years and captured the Cahokia Conference championship in its first season.
Mt. Zion, meanwhile, brings considerable recent postseason experience into Friday’s contest.
Under head coach Patrick Etherton, the Braves reached the Class 4A state championship game in 2024 before falling to DePaul College Prep. After suffering a first-round playoff exit in 2025, Mt. Zion is looking to make another deep postseason run.
The Braves feature a versatile offense led by junior quarterback Noah Schmahl, senior Connor Fox and junior receiver Jaxon Good. Mt. Zion has averaged 34.2 points per game this season and has scored at least 28 points in each of its five consecutive victories.
Friday’s matchup also features an interesting common opponent.
Both teams faced Effingham during the regular season, with Mt. Zion earning a 51-13 victory and Centralia defeating the Flaming Hearts 44-7. The nearly identical margins of victory offer an intriguing comparison between the two programs.
Defensively, slowing down Centralia’s explosive rushing attack will be a major priority for the Braves. The Orphans have scored at least 35 points in every game this season, presenting a significant challenge for a Mt. Zion defense allowing 15 points per contest.
Despite their proximity in central and southern Illinois, no previous meeting between the two programs has been confirmed in available modern football records.
The winner will advance to the Class 4A state quarterfinals, where it will face the winner of Sacred Heart-Griffin and Metamora.
Friday’s game can be heard live on 106.3 The Game, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
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