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Prep Football: A Proper Sendoff

It will likely be a season of what-if's, but if Harrisburg head coach Al Way has a say, Friday night's season closer will be a no-brainer.

Way's focus and goal is to send his senior class out with a win in a season where the Harrisburg head coach knows that a few losses early in the schedule prevented his Bulldogs from making the postseason.

When Carbondale - who sports an overall 2-6 record - comes into Taylor Field, Way wants his team to go home with a win.

"The scary thing about Carbondale is they have played a very good schedule and they have very good skill people," Way said. "They have numerous returns for touchdowns this season and have thrown for more than 800 yards. They have a lot of speed and if you make a mistake on defense, (Carbondale) will turn it into a long touchdown."

Given their South Seven schedule with games against opponents like Belleville Althoff (8-0), Centralia (6-2), Marion (4-4), Cahokia (4-4) and Granite City (4-4), Way will understandably have his concerns Friday night.

"The good thing right now is we should get Axavier Doss back and maybe Austin Hefner," Way said. "Preston Wargel is out and we are not real sure about Matt Upchurch and Jeremy Wright. That's really our big concern right now.

"This isn't the best time to not be healthy, but it's been like this all year," he said. "We get one back and then we lose another. That's the way it goes, but you don't have to like it."

Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register and Eldorado Daily Journal. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.