CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Clarksville High football (3-5, 2-3) can punch its ticket to the playoffs with a victory on the road against West Creek (2-6, 0-5) at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30.

Despite dropping five of their first six games to begin the season, the Wildcats never wavered and have bounced back to face this win-and-get-in scenario.

“Our schedule was very difficult right out of the gate with some state powers and teams that have recently made deep playoff runs,” said Clarksville football coach Isaac Shelby. “This is not the first time this has happened, and they understand that quality of competition. We never discussed it as our season was over.”

Back-to-back wins

Clarksville has been impressive in recent weeks, defeating Kenwood and Northwest to string together back-to-back wins.

“Offensively we have moved the chains better,” Shelby said of his team’s improvement. “Defensively, we have tackled in the open field better and special teams have executed.”

Sophomore quarterback Davin Garinger and the rest of the offense has found their groove after struggling to move the chains in their last loss against Northeast.

Shelby discussed the progress he has seen in his signal caller from year one to year two.

“Davin is a leader and one of the most selfless players I have coached,” Shelby said. “He is a tremendous person that has earned the respect of all of his teammates.”

There have also been many other key contributors to Clarksville’s success during the second half of the season.

“Coltyn Stansberry is a senior guard who is an incredible worker and an important part to our team,” Shelby said. “Gavin Baxter is a senior wide receiver who is new to football, but has done a great job fielding and returning kicks for us. Our junior left tackle, Jakobie Watkins, is very quiet, but he is having an outstanding year protecting Davin.”

West Creek struggling

The Coyotes have struggled this year in all three phases of the game, but especially when it comes to protecting their standout quarterback, Ti-Anthony Wagner. In their final game of the season, West Creek football coach James Figueroa’s group will look to play the role of spoiler.

Shelby isn’t letting his team look past the task at hand despite being the heavy favorite entering the contest on Friday.

“Each week is a new week,” Shelby said. “We prepare for all of the games exactly the same in terms of game prep. We have set fundamental drills that we do each week and we follow our same practice schedule.”