ATTICA, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—Already locked into the postseason for the 12th consecutive year, the Seneca East Tigers still have plenty on the line Friday night as they host Upper Sandusky in the Week 10 regular-season finale.
Speaking on “Coaches Corner Extra” with host Josh Stallings, Seneca East head coach Ed Phillips said the Tigers (7-2) are focused on defending their new home turf, where they currently sit at 4-0 this season. Entering the final week as the No. 6 seed in their region, a victory Friday would position Seneca East to host a first-round OHSAA playoff game in Week 11.
Standing in their way is an Upper Sandusky squad that presents a unique schematic test for the Tigers’ defense.
Phillips noted that unlike most opponents in the Northern 10 Athletic Conference, Upper Sandusky has the capability to operate a pass-first offense that puts athletes into open space. To counter that attack, Phillips said the Tigers must dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and execute open-field tackles.
Seneca East has qualified for the state playoffs every season since 2015, a streak Phillips credits to a program-wide culture of offseason weight room dedication and shared leadership across all four grade levels. Rather than naming permanent season captains, the Tigers rotate senior captains each Friday night to encourage leadership from freshmen through seniors.