By Brandon Barb
Brown County Press

For the first time in school history, the Western Brown Bronco football team will be hosting a home playoff game on Nov. 8 against Thurgood Marshall, out of Dayton.

The Broncos received their home field advantage in the Division III, Region 10 playoffs after beating the Norwood Indians 48-14 on Nov. 1. The win gave the Broncos an undefeated, 10-0, regular season and clinched the Southern Buckeye Conference league championship for them.

“This was the seniors’ goal and to come out win a conference title and go 10-0. Their goals have been accomplished, but we’ve got so many more to go within this program,” Western Brown head coach Evan Dreyer said. “We have a lot of great things in our program, but its not over with. I’m proud, but we can take it one step further.”

Heading into the Nov. 8 game, the fourth seeded Broncos have a big challenge in front of them. The fifth seeded Cougars won their last two regular season games 49-0 and 63-0, so the boys in brown will have their work cut out for them.

The Cougars had a 6-3 record during the regular season, but they did win their division.

“We’ve got to play 48 minutes of Western Brown football, fast and furious, and we’re going to lay it all on the line,” Dreyer said. “They put on the pads the same way we do, and we’ll go after it. (Thurgood) were in the playoffs last year and advanced, but every Friday night is different in Ohio. Hopefully, we play a great football game.”

Thurgood also has a few guys with Division I offers and scholarships, according to Dreyer, but that “doesn’t mean they’re a better team.”

The Broncos are also hoping to win their first playoff game in program history as well.

“We’re shooting for that and that’s exciting for this team to say they are some of the school’s elite, but to get to week 12 will be something special,” Dreyer said.

While there is more pressure on this game, Dreyer is handling preparation the same way he did during the middle of the season.

“It’s exciting to see our kids come and prepare,” Dreyer said. “Its a special week. Some teams are putting away their pads for the year and we get another week to work and improve our program, so it is special. You can’t take that away from these seniors.

“As a head coach I’m proud of what they’ve done so far, but I want something more for these kids,” Dreyer said. “We have a chance, so we’re going to see how good of a team we are.”

The game will be at Western Brown High School on Nov. 8, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m.