Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
WEST FRANKFORT — The West Frankfort Redbirds will host their first home playoff game in 18 years Saturday, when Roxana pays a visit to Johnson Field.
The Redbirds earned the home game and the six seed in the 3A southern bracket with Friday night’s 66-41 win over Sparta/Steeleville. Lucas Parker accounted for six touchdowns–three rushing and three passing. Jase Bennett caught a 55-yard touchdown pass from Parker and also returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown. Bennett’s long kickoff return set up Parker’s nine yard second quarter scoring run that put the Redbirds in front to stay.
The loss prevented Sparta/Steeleville from reaching the playoffs for the first time since 1992. The Bulldogs finished 4-5 in Drew Kordys’ first season as head coach. It marked the school’s best season in ten years, snapping a varsity winless streak that dated back to week 8 of 2019.
As for West Frankfort and Roxana, both teams are 6-3. Both teams finished fourth in their respective conferences–the Redbirds in the SIRR Mississippi and the Shells in the Cahokia Mississippi. Frankfort will be making its second straight postseason appearance and fifth under head coach Brian Beery. The Redbirds will be trying for their first playoff win since 2007. This will Roxana’s fourth straight trip to the postseason and fifth under head coach Wade DeVries. The Shells made it to the 3A semifinals two years ago, falling to Mt. Carmel.
Kickoff will be at 2:30 Saturday afternoon in West Frankfort.
