The marquee of the McDonald's in Centralia said it all Saturday. Instead of hawking $1 Sausage McGriddles, it simply read "Beat Brentwood Down."

It was clear well before kickoff that Brentwood was facing more than just the Centralia football team in the Class 2 semifinals; the Eagles were facing an entire town. There was unranked Brentwood, outmanned 3-1 on the field and at least 10-1 in the stands against Centralia, the No. 1 team in Class 2.

But there was Brentwood, making play after play, taking a 21-7, then a 28-14 lead until holding on for a 28-27 upset win.

"We knew it was there," Brentwood senior Lincoln Louis said. "We knew the whole town was rallying for them against us. It just gave us more fuel."

"They were booking their trip to St. Louis, while we were preparing for the game," added Brentwood senior Alex Brungardt. "They booked their hotel rooms while we watched game tape."

Brentwood (12-1 overall) will play Maryville (13-1) for the Class 2 championship at the Edward Jones Dome today at 1 p.m.

Win or lose, it will be the end of the line for an incredible senior class, led by Louis, Brungardt, Taylor Dee and Tywan Brooks.

Many of these players have been teammates since sixth grade; others have been teammates since kindergarten at St. Mary Magdalene where the group has won numerous CYC titles in basketball and baseball.

"We've been best friends for years," Dee said.

And it's that friendship that has helped bring Brentwood football to the next level. The group is saving its best for last, wanting to keep the good times going for as long as possible.

That friendship has spawned a trust in each other, something that has helped Brentwood fight through adverse environments like the one it encountered at Centralia.

"We understand each other," Brungardt said. "We understand how the other feels."

The group has brought Brentwood back to football prominence. A perennial contender in the 70s and 80s, this will be the school's first trip to the championship game since 1987.

The ride has been fun for Brentwood coach Scott Surgener, a 1981 alum.

"I think it almost reverts back to the old days," Surgener said. "Brentwood is a very tight community. A lot of guys grew up in the community and they play with their neighbors and friends."

Brentwood again will be in the underdog role today against a bigger, stronger Maryville team. Maryville was the Class 2 runner-up last season.

It's a role the team relishes.

"They don't do anything we haven't seen already," Dee said. "We've played against bigger and stronger linemen and faster backs. … We're not going to roll over."

Winning the game would be the perfect end for this group, but it will be an emotional experience regardless of the outcome.

"I'm sure, win or lose, we'll be able to look back at the season with no regrets," Louis said.

Dee wants to go out on top.

"We'll be on an emotional high," Dee said. "It will be a great feeling until after the game and we realize that it's all over."