CENTREVILLE — As hard and cold as the ground was Friday night at Centreville Academy, the road to the MPSA AA State Championship is only getting harder.

Especially with five starting Tigers injured.

Centreville (12-2, 4-1) District 5) is missing its right and left tackles, its starting right guard and key linebacker, plus a running back.

“Several of those are two-way starters,” said Centreville assistant coach Brian Stutzman. “We’ve just realized they’re not coming back. We’ve just got to prepare without them, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

The Tigers don’t have much choice. The South State champions play Kirk Academy in the state championship game at 5 p.m. today at East Rankin Academy.

Stutzman said he is confident his backup linemen will be able to take the assignment, and the Tigers have been practicing with them in position all week.

“It’s not like it’s their first game to play in,” he said. “They’ve got experience. They just haven’t been there and tasted that state championship. That’s what you lose.

“We have all the confidence in the world that the kids will do what they need to do.”

Stutzman said lineman Justin Henry and wide receiver/linebacker Patrick Love are both out for the season with torn anterior cruciate ligaments.

He said the three other injured players will dress out and could possibly play today, but he is not sure how strong they will be.

“I don’t know what they’re going to bring to the table,” he said. “If they’re not playing at 100 percent, they’re liable to actually hurt us more than help us.”

The Tigers will have to protect against a good Kirk Academy running quarterback and a solid fullback and tailback.

Stutzman also said they have two good wide receivers as well.

“They’re just sound in all their skill positions,” he said. “They have a real fast split end, and they love to throw fades to him. That’s probably their favorite pass.”

Centreville’s offensive game plan has not changed much from game to game this season.

And if that offense has gotten the Tigers to the state championship game, there’s no reason to change it now, Stutzman said.

Zack Sinclair has taken on the majority of the running game himself, and that will continue Saturday as well.

“We have lots of kids that can run the ball, but he has exceptional talent. I don’t think anyone would argue with that,” Stutzman said. “He makes it easy to call plays, and he can always make something out of nothing.”

Kirk Academy (13-2) is undefeated in six District 1 games and defeated Lee Academy of Clarksdale 7-6 last Friday.