By Marc F. Pendleton, Dayton Daily News Staff Writer 12:56 AM Saturday, October 29, 2011

CENTERVILLE — Ron Ullery is big on seniors. That’s the way it is when you play football for Centerville High School.

There is a not-so-subtle understanding that each senior class will do its best to carry on the Elks’ winning tradition. Those are deep roots that were planted several eras ago.

That’s why Centerville’s 1-3 start to this season didn’t shake Ullery. He was much more interested in how his seniors were going to recover.

“There was a time earlier in this year that I wasn’t sure how much ownership of this team our seniors were going to take,” he said.

“A lot of teams with that kind of adversity tuck it in, throw the towel in, fold up the tent and go home. These guys said no. I give them all the credit in the world.”

Let’s just say that this senior class has won over its coach.

Centerville blitzed visiting Beavercreek 63-7 in the final game of the regular season Friday night. That pads the Elks’ win streak to six straight — mostly lopsided wipeouts.

It also inches Centerville closer to a Division I, Region 4 playoff spot. A lot had to happen for the Elks to jump three teams and crack the top eight to qualify for next week’s first round.

That didn’t look good late Friday when LaSalle edged Elder in the final seconds and a Canadian team that Centerville had crushed also lost after a late turnover.

It also was yet another blowout delivered by the Elks. They’ve scored 49 or more points in five of those six wins. Centerville was better than ever against Beavercreek, scoring on nine straight possessions.

“After the first four games, we were down in the dumps,” said senior fullback Chris Barr, who scored on runs of 54, 4 and 1 yards. “We dug deep and righted the ship as a senior class and got it going.

“We all care about this program and about each other more than anything. It wasn’t a choice for us; we were going to do it.”

Centerville linebacker Mike Thomas also reflected on how the Elks recovered.

“We decided to grab the team, turn it around, carry it on our backs and make the season how we wanted it,” said Thomas, part of another impressive shutdown effort that limited the Beavers’ strong option running game to just 100 yards.

“It was definitely hard, with the Centerville tradition and everything.”

In many ways, Centerville is much like Wayne was last season: on a season-ending roll. The big difference is that the Elks won’t have as many second-level points because no other Greater Western Ohio Conference Central Division team fared better than six wins.

Only Beavercreek and Wayne, both 6-4, were able to post six victories.

Most likely, Centerville (7-3) must be content to wrap up sole possession of a Central title.

But what if the Elks were able to sneak into the playoffs?

“I’d like my chances with this team,” beamed Ullery.

Contact this reporter at 
(937) 225-2381 or 
mpendleton@DaytonDailyNews.com.