CENTERVILLE — It's the rematch that Centerville has been waiting for all year.
The Big Reds proved on Friday against their oldest rival that a much-more balanced team will be awaiting PCM this season in the battle for the Class 2A, District 7 championship.
Centerville used an immediate strike on special teams, timely passes and a key defensive push in the second half to retain the 'Battle of Highway 5' trophy. Abram DeCena scored both touchdowns in the first half, including a game-opening 89-yard kickoff return, while Curtis Mathes stopped Beau Buckingham in the end zone for a game-turning safety in the third quarter as the Big Reds withstood an early threat by Albia in the second half before pulling away for a 40-8 win over the Blue Demons setting up a battle for the district title for the second straight year to close out the regular season.
"Albia plays hard. They've got good players. Coach (Matt) Carlson has done an outstanding job with that program getting them to believe in themselves and playing with confidence," Centerville head football coach Matt Kovacevich said. "We knew we were going to have to play well on the line of scrimmage. It was rough at times, but in the end I thought for four quarters we started to lean on them in the second half to open up some lanes.
"I can't say enough about our defense coming up with a couple big turnovers and, probably, the play of the game with that safety in the third quarter."
Centerville, winners of six straight games over the past seven weeks, will host PCM next Friday at Paul Johnson Field as both teams enter with perfect records in district play. PCM rallied from a 13-point deficit in the first half last season in Monroe, winning 58-30 over the Big Reds earning the district title ultimately earning three home playoff games.
"I think that, in all three phases of the game, we're performing really well at times for the most part," Kovacevich said. "You always want to be playing your best football in October. I feel like we're playing pretty well. We've just got to keep going, keep playing, keep fighting, keep practicing and take it day-by-day."
Albia, also playoff bound, hosts Pella Christian next Friday at Ironman Field. The winner of the contest will be earn the third seed out of the district while the losing team will have to open the postseason on the road against a 2A district champion.
"I don't think we've left anything back. We've left it all out on the field," Carlson said. "We've been preaching all year that we have to be physical and we've got some dues that came play with that effort. When you can play like that and leave all out there, you've got every reason to walk away with your head held high."