Coach Clyde Lucas and the Grove City Christian School football team aren't just satisfied with reaching the Division VI, Region 23 title game.

The Eagles plan on extending their season.

Grove City Christian, making its first football postseason appearance in four years of existence, plays top-seeded Malvern in the regional final at 1 p.m. Saturday in Zanesville High School's John D. Sulsberger Stadium.

The Hornets are 11-1, with their lone loss coming against Division V power West Lafayette Ridgewood (27-26 on Oct. 23). Ridgewood (12-0) plays Fredericktown in the Division V, Region 19 final Saturday.

"We know the competition is going to get better every week," said Lucas, who has been named the Central District Division VI Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. "We knew there were going to be good teams. They're all good teams at this point."

Sixth-seeded Grove City Christian is also 11-1. The Eagles defeated Shadyside 27-14 in a regional semifinal last Saturday in Zanesville.

This will be the Eagles' fourth game this season at Sulsberger Stadium, where they are 2-1.

"We're very excited," said senior wide receiver and defensive back Connor Lucas, the coach's son. "We've come a long way in a short four years."

Malvern reached a Division VI state semifinal last season, losing to eventual runner-up Bascom Hopewell-Loudon 55-20.

The Hornets run a spread misdirection attack but have the ability to jump into a pro I-formation, according to Grove City Christian offensive coordinator Ed Kennedy.

Malvern is averaging 40.7 points.

The Hornets' top offensive threat is senior running back Maurice Johnson (5-foot-9, 150 pounds), who has rushed for 1,773 yards and 19 touchdowns on 242 carries. He rushed for 98 yards on 15 carries in a 31-9 win over fourth-seeded Bridgeport in the other regional semifinal last Saturday.

Senior quarterback Doug Wood (5-10, 185) has completed 109 of 168 passes for 1,581 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Defensively, Malvern features a 5-2 base defense.

Senior linebacker Tyler Crawford (5-10, 200) leads the Hornets in tackles with 79.

"Size-wise, Malvern is about equal to ours," coach Lucas said. "They play hard. This is a step up. This is probably the best team we've seen all year."

Grove City Christian cruised to the win against Shadyside, despite playing without senior starting quarterback Christopher Bowman, who suffered a concussion in the 28-0 win over Zanesville Rosecrans in a regional quarterfinal Nov. 7.

Lucas noted that Bowman is questionable for the regional final.

Luke Smurthwaite, who shared snaps with Bowman throughout the season, started and responded with a touchdown pass and run.

Senior running back Jessie Barns, who has rushed for 1,542 yards and 18 touchdowns on 193 carries, led the Eagles against Shadyside with 140 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.

"We have to have our ball control offense," Connor Lucas said.

"Last game we controlled the ball with a mixture of running and passing, and we have to shut down their offense. Our defense has been playing very well lately. We have to have our DBs play well and we have to have our front six play well."

Lucas also hopes junior linebacker Kevin Williams, who missed the game against Shadyside with a concussion, plays Saturday.

The Eagles are averaging 35.6 points and allowing just 7.2 points.

"This is surreal," coach Lucas said. "It's just unbelievable. All things keep pointing back to what we've talked about -- it's divine intervention. We're just riding it."