FAIRBURY, Ill. (WCIA) — At Prairie Central, winning is more than just a goal—it’s a tradition.

“It’s not enough to want victory; you must earn it, and our players truly embrace that,” stated head coach Mike Goodwin.

This philosophy has fueled an impressive eight-year playoff run for the Hawks.

This season, however, that winning attitude faced challenges as several key players suffered season-ending injuries.

“We’re adopting a ‘next man up’ approach like many others. We adapt, trust in our players, and rely on teamwork to pull through,” Goodwin explained.

Seniors like Will Skala and Aidan Elder fill key roles on this squad on both sides of the ball.

“I think it is cool. Not many people do that, but I mean, it is fun. It’s tiring, but it’s fun to always be on the field,” Skala said.

“I love it,” Elder said. “Being able to help on both sides of the ball is just an incredible feeling. Hearing my name every game, incredible feeling.”

This team knows they’ll need to find at least one win in their final two games of the season to be playoff eligible and keep their postseason streak alive.

“The motivation is just being able to continue that streak and leave our mark on this conference and just be able to come out here every day and play for a reason,” Elder said. “I love all these guys to death, I wouldn’t want any other teammates besides these guys, these guys are my brothers.”

The Hawks have a tall order against a Monticello team that beat them 28-13 last season.

“Monticello is Monticello,” Goodwin said. “One of the best coach teams we’re going to play, if not the best.” “We’ve got to be ready to go from the get go.”

Prairie Central hosts Monticello in our Friday Football Fever Spotlight Game of the Week on Friday, October 17 at 7:00 p.m.