Win or loss, Mexico and Centralia learn much after playing each other every year.

The teams have begun their season with each other for the past six seasons, and Centralia won Friday’s last meeting 28-7 to win its second straight game over Mexico. Charlie Robinson ran for 92 yards and three touchdowns — out of Centralia’s 393 rushing yards — to help win the game in Mexico for the Panthers, who finished Week 1 with the No. ranking in Class 2.

Centralia head coach Tyler Forsee said facing Mexico first is good from the sense it is a good early challenge every year for his kids but also bad because it’s tough every year.

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“(Haag) coaches a well-oiled machine when they get going as you saw on that scoring drive,” Forsee said. “He is OK with three yards after three yards and then they get a 10-yard run. You have to be ultra-discipline on defense, and you cannot be too aggressive.”

Mexico head coach Steve Haag said the first week always helps coaches learn things about the team. Mexico was no exception to this because a game can’t be replicated in practice – both physically and mentally. Haag said Mexico is aware of the level of conditioning needed now, especially after the game started with warm temperatures.

“I had a coach tell me one time, ‘You’ve got to get them to cramp in practice before the game,’” Haag said. “‘Once they cramp, they’ll stop cramping.’ We didn’t get there this year. We do have some of those young guys. You don’t want to run them to death, but when you see that stuff right there, you know you need to get in better shape.”

Forsee said there are “first-game jitters” to overcome along with not being in game shape quite yet. He said he saw some maturity out of his kids, particularly when the Panthers made a mistake. They usually brushed it off to run big plays like big runs by Ethan Ross, who ran 158 yards, and Oliver Bohlmeyer, who went for 90 yards, to set up eventual touchdowns on drives.

“They know one play is not a football game,” Forsee said. “We keep playing. If I’m ever nervous about how a game is going to go, I just think back to the kids I get to coach and I know they’re never not going to give their best effort.”

Haag said there were varsity returners and newcomers who had a good first showing and hopes they can be contributors down the road. James Matthews had a 28-yard first down catch along the sideline and broke up a touchdown pass on defense, D’Naz Smith returned the ball well on special teams for 223 return yards and had the team’s first touchdown of the season on a two-yard run, and Brysen Hammers had 74 yards on 12 carries. 

“James is quick and a player, and D’Naz is a physical runner who is going to get better,” Haag said. “Connor (Fisher) did well in that second half with our dive scheme, and (Brysen) Hammers did well on our tosses. (Hammers) really did a good job picking his holes and getting upfield.”

Forsee said he knew going in that Robinson is “as tough as they come” and “he’s the first guy off the bus for us.” He also knows Centralia’s opponent this week, Class 3 No. 8 Hallsville (1-0), at home.

“That’s another game you don’t have to get your kids hyped up for,” Forsee said. “They can score on any given play. They throw the ball all over the place, so it’s the flip side of what we got to go against today.”

Haag said Centralia offers a similar offense to Mexico’s opponent Fulton (0-1) this Friday at home for the first 54 Bowl game after the dissolution of the North Central Missouri Conference.

“(Centralia) is top of Class 2, and we always want to play physical teams,” Haag said. “We let a few big plays go, and we can’t let that happen. It’s a learning experience.”