Fenwick High School football coach Fred Cranford has a challenge for any takers.

“If you can find another small school game in the area better than this one, let me know,” Cranford said as his Falcons and Chaminade Julienne prepare to put identical records (5-2 overall, 3-1 GCL North) on the line tonight at Fenwick. “It is going to be a battle.”

For the winner? A big boost in the Harbin computer rankings.

Fenwick is ninth, just outside the playoffs in Division IV, Region 16. CJ, which suffered a last-second loss to Badin, sits 14th. The top eight teams in each region advance to the postseason.

“It is crunch time for us,” Cranford said. “This is a big game for either team. It is dripping with Harbin points. It is an imperative game for both teams.”

Fenwick knows its playoff hopes hinge on closing out the season with wins against the Eagles, Alter and Carroll.

“We have to go one week at a time and no week is bigger than this week,” Cranford said. “We have to go get it. We have to win out and that is something we haven’t been able to do in the past.”

The Eagles, led on the ground by Antwan Persons, are ninth in the GCL in offense at 302 yards per game, with 220 coming on the ground. The Eagles are second in defense, giving up 299 yards per game. Fenwick, meanwhile, is fifth in offense at 376 yards per game, but 10th in defense at 367 per game.

“We are excited about where we are at — our confidence is high,” Cranford said. “Offensively, we believe in what we are doing. The flip side is that our kids have to believe in what we are doing defensively. Over the last three weeks, I think we are starting to do that.”

The big key for the Falcons on Friday night will be ball security. In last year’s 40-23 loss to CJ, Fenwick lost six fumbles.

“When you do that, you don’t deserve to win … and you probably won’t win,” Cranford said. “We have to take care of the ball.”

Cranford believes the Falcons have developed the poise to handle anything . The Falcons opened the season with an overtime win over Wyoming in the Crosstown Showdown, has faced undefeated Mt. Healthy and played an overtime game against McNicholas.

“We have been in some incredible situations,” Cranford said. “We have seen a little bit more and we have maintained our composure… I think we are ready for anything.”