Clinton football coach Ron Bass is calling his team's 28-12 loss to Shelbyville last Friday night a learning experience.

The unofficial Central Illinois Conference championship game was back and forth and much closer than the final score would indicate. Coach Bass liked the way his team responded at points during the night.

Part of the learning experience for Coach Bass was the championship-caliber plays Shelbyville made at crucial points in the game and his team not making enough of them.

Coach Bass' message to his team: he's proud of them and earned the right to be playing for a conference championship in week eight of the high school football season.

It's off to Pontiac Friday night for Clinton to wrap up the regular season. Pontiac is 2-6 overall. An advantage the Maroons might have is John Johnson - the previous head coach at Pontiac - is the co-offensive coordinator for Clinton.

Game time is 7 pm Friday night. Hear all the action on WHOW and all its digital platforms.