“That was a neat experience, no doubt about it,” Yordy said. “And to be able to come back and coach a game in the playoffs for Badin means a lot to me.”
WEEK 11 FOOTBALL COVERAGE
» Fenwick has more options for playoffs as Davis returns
» Stakes higher for Edgewood, Little Miami in rematch
» East puts perfect first-round playoff record up against Mason
« Senior Starks savoring every healthy moment for Badin
» Hamilton forces Murphy out after six seasons, 14-46 record
It’s Badin’s first postseason appearance since losing at Fenwick in 2015. The Rams’ last playoff win came over Shroder Paideia in 2014.
“We’re trying to come out and make a statement to say that we’re back,” said Badin senior Dylan Schmitt, a center and defensive lineman. “I wouldn’t see ourself as an underdog. Many people would say that because we’re the lower seed, but due to our confidence and how we’ve been playing, most of the kids on our team are saying we’re in a very good position to win this game.
“We’re not intimidated. I’d say we’re ready to come out and smack ’em in the mouth.”
Badin (7-3) and Butler (6-4) are run-first teams that utilize a physical style of play.
The Rams are averaging 212.7 yards per game on the ground — the Aviators are averaging 189.3. Both teams have a 1,000-yard senior back, Davon Starks (181 carries, 1,075 yards, 13 TDs) for Badin and Ryan Martin (198 carries, 1,064 yards, 16 TDs) for Butler.
“I think it’s probably going to be one of the best playoff games of the weekend throughout the state,” said Aviators coach John Puckett, a 1995 Chaminade Julienne graduate who coached under Jim Place for three years at Hamilton. “I played at CJ when Coach (Terry) Malone was at Badin, and you’d always have those slobberknocker kind of games with them.
“I think Yordy and (Joel) Lauer are trying to bring that mentality back, and it looks like they’re well on their way. That’s kind of my approach to everything. We want to make it to where the toughest team wins.”
Senior Mason Motter has some dual skills at quarterback for Butler. He’s 77-of-158 for 894 yards and nine touchdowns while running 160 times for 676 yards and five TDs.
“We just try to grind teams out and play good defense,” Puckett said. “We’re not going to wow the crowd with fantastic passes. We’re 3 yards and a cloud of dust, then line up again and get another 3 yards and see how many of those little black pellets come off the turf.”
The Aviators are getting healthier, having recently returned a starting wide receiver and defensive lineman. Senior linebacker Nick Coyle heads the defense, and Puckett said he’s the best linebacker he’s coached since Hamilton’s Denicos Allen.
Puckett noted that his roster has a unique makeup. He said 46 of his players (about 80 percent) are either seniors or freshmen.
The biggest issue for Butler is the fact that it didn’t finish the regular season in strong fashion.
“I would say probably the last 10 quarters we’ve played have been pretty substandard for our expectation level,” Puckett said. “We’ve been turning the ball over a little bit and not creating as many turnovers, and we’ve had some dumb penalties. We’ve just kind of been elsewhere mentally, and that’s on me. It’s my job to get my team ready to play.”
The Rams have won five of their last six games and drubbed McNicholas 48-6 last week. Yordy said his team has been fortunate to avoid major injuries this year.
“This is going to be a physical game,” Yordy said. “They’re comparable to a (Greater Catholic League) team in terms of how they play and their physicality.”
Friday’s game
What: Division III, Region 12 football quarterfinal, No. 5 seed Badin (7-3) at No. 4 seed Vandalia Butler (6-4), 7 p.m.
Where: Memorial Field, 600 S. Dixie Dr., Vandalia
Series: First meeting
Next: Winner will play either Alter or Mount Healthy at 7 p.m. on Nov. 9 at a neutral site
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