The Blue Knights entered the contest having been in control of their own destiny all season, while cross-town rival Central was still in the process of climbing out of an early-season hole created by an 0-2 start.

When Central quarterback Scott McCurdy took a knee on the final snap of a 28-16 victory, it was the 4-3 Little Green who had the inside track on a post season berth.

Though there are still several scenarios that may play out over the last two weeks of the season - including possible tiebreakers between West, Central, Salem, and Londonderry should three of the four finish with 5-3 records - a Little Green win against Salem on Friday, Oct. 26, almost assuredly means a playoff appearance.

“We can’t lose another Division I game, we’ve known that ... and we only have one Division I game left,” said Central coach Ryan Ray.

“We’ve lost three games this year and all of them have been to very good teams, but you can’t get into the playoffs losing to very good teams.

“If we can beat Salem, maybe, just maybe, we deserve to be there.”

The 3-3 Blue Knights, on the other hand, must regroup and prepare to host another Queen City foe, Manchester Memorial, also on Oct. 26.

In addition to a victory, West players and coaches will likely be rooting for Salem to defeat Central in the aforementioned match-up creating a scenario where a win in the season finale with the Blue Devils will get them into the show.

But West coach Travis Cote said he’d rather have avoided the drama.

“We’re just not in a good position now,” said Cote. “Obviously we knew going into this that we had three games left and if we win outright we’re in there and now we need to rely on other people, and that’s never a good position to be in.”

The Blue Knights’ current position is due in large part to their inability to stop Central senior back Mike LeClerc who ran for 204 yards on 26 carries, including 157 yards in the second half.

“It’s kind of strange because early on in the year our defense was playing so well and that was kind of our strong point,” said Cote. “I don’t know really have the answer right now. We just haven’t been able to get stops the last couple weeks.”

Prior to the Central loss, West suffered a 34-24 setback at Nashua South, a team that also utilized its running attack against the Blue Knights.

Still, Cote said the most recent defeat hurt more.

“It’s a city rivalry, you always want to beat Central and they always want to beat us, so yeah, it’s definitely a tough one to take,” he said.

But the contest was close right up until LeClerc found paydirt for the third time on a 21- yard scamper late in the fourth quarter.

LeClerc got the scoring started on Central’s first possession by punching a 2-yard-touchdown run to complete a 63-yard drive.

In the second quarter, Central fumbled a punt return on the 21-yard line where West’s Chris Wallace recovered.

Six plays later, Blue Knights’ signal caller Lyle Smith broke left and darted six yards into the corner of the end zone to tie the game at seven-apiece.

Central’s response took 11 plays and 80 yards, but it was soon back on top following a 16-yard catch and run by junior wideout Brett Parenteau, capped by Zach Lemire’s second converted extra point of the evening.

In the second half, LeClerc took the first play from scrimmage 63-yards, though West struck back with its first long drive of the night, a 70-yard push that ended with a 28-yard field goal by senior kicker Kameron Knowlton.

The Blue Knights then took advantage of another Central special teams miscue - a negative- 2-yard punt that had been kicked straight up into the winds cutting through the stadium.

Two plays later, Clement scrambled 26 yards on a counter into the end zone.

West failed to convert a twopoint conversion before LeClerc sealed the final score at 28-16.