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MUSCATINE, Iowa – For a team that is 1-5 and hovering near the basement of the Mississippi Athletic Conference standings, it would be easy for Muscatine’s football players to throw in the towel.

Senior linebacker Mitch Shellady said the Muskies won’t do that.

“We haven’t given up on this season yet,” Shellady said after Wednesday’s practice. “We’re still working hard out here, working hard in the weight room.

“We definitely want to upset somebody’s little playoff party.”

Before Muscatine can think about doing that the next two weeks against playoff hopefuls North Scott and Pleasant Valley, the Muskies face Davenport West (1-5) in their home finale Friday.

Like Muscatine, West’s only victory this season came against winless Davenport North.

Like Muscatine, West has been plagued by turnovers and missed opportunities on offense.

And like Muscatine, West has been vulnerable on defense at times.

“(West’s) main offensive attack is going to be its fullback,” MHS senior linebacker Mat Snider said. “We know if we stop their fullback and quarterback; that will be the key to winning.”

Logan Corrigan has surpassed the 100-yard mark twice this season and leads the Falcons with 400 rushing yards, but the 205-pound senior will be limited because of an ankle injury.

Corrigan suffered the injury three weeks ago and re-aggravated it last week against Bettendorf.

“I’m not sure how much he’ll play, or if he’ll play at all right now,” West coach Scott Schroeder said. “He’s not near full speed.”

Garrett Hass has been the team’s primary quarterback, but James Green stepped in last week and rushed for 69 yards as Hass was out with an arm injury. Schroeder said Hass will start Friday night for West, which has dropped 30 of its last 33 games.

“When you lose and struggle, it’s difficult,” Schroeder said. “The biggest thing is confidence and belief in ourselves. When we play well and do the right things, we’re pretty competitive. When we turn the ball over and have penalties, we’re not very good at all.

“We need to understand the importance of every play and possession.”

Muscatine can relate.

The Muskies are trying to regroup after their most lopsided defeat of the season, a 45-0 drubbing at third-ranked Clinton. In steady rain and sloppy field conditions, Muscatine generated just 15 yards of offense.

MHS, however, has put that game in the rearview mirror, lineman Zach Lutz said.

“Our team has done a pretty good job of picking ourselves up from our losses and starting a new week,” he said. “We’re focused on our next game, not on the past.”

And with Friday being senior night, the Muskies will attempt to send the class out with a home victory.

“I just want to go out there, give it everything I’ve got and get a win for my last home game,” said Snider, who leads the Muskie defense with 52 tackles.

While the season hasn’t unfolded like they envisioned, the seniors said the year has provided several teaching moments.

“We’ve definitely learned when you have problems or experience a downfall, you pick yourself up and move on and get better,” Lutz said. “You can’t doubt yourself.

“It’d feel really good to win that last home game, even if our season hasn’t been the way we’ve wanted it to play out.”

Shellady said Muscatine just needs to do a better job of being consistent and putting together a 48-minute effort.

“We do seem to take a couple steps forward, then one step back,” he said. “You wish you could improve a lot each game and be at your best by week nine.

“We still have three more weeks left, and we’d really like to come out with three more wins. We’ve got nothing to lose.”

Davenport West (1-5)

at Muscatine (1-5)

- When: Sophomores at 4:45 p.m. Friday, varsity to follow between 7:15-7:30 p.m.

- Where: Muscatine Community Stadium

- Last week: West was held to 124 yards of total offense in being blanked at home to Bettendorf, 27-0. Muscatine had just 15 yards of offense in a 45-0 defeat at Clinton.

- Coaches: West, Scott Schroeder, fourth year, 3-30; Muscatine, Tony Napierala, second year, 5-11.

- Last meeting: Muscatine’s Edwin Arceo accounted for five touchdowns, a field goal and four extra points in a 44-0 win over West last October at Brady Street Stadium. The Falcons were limited to 109 total yards.

- Stat leaders: West, Rushing — Logan Corrigan 82-400, 2 TDs; Zack Bruce 27-114, TD. Passing — Garrett Haas 12-27-5, 126 yards, 2 TDs. Receiving — Noah Mitchell 6-38, TD. Defense — Stats aren’t available. Muscatine, Rushing — Tanner Bohling 52-210; Nick Garretson 36-72, 2 TDs. Passing — Paul Jindrich 57-110-12, 642 yards, 3 TDs; Garretson 23-44-4, 304 yards, TD. Receiving — Bohling 21-279; TJ Husar 20-182; Jeff Failor 13-158, 3 TDs. Defense — Mat Snider 31 solo tackles, 21 assists; Isaac Ales 27 solo tackles, 17 assists; Mitch Shelladay 17 solo tackles, 10 assists; Derick Minch 5 fumble recoveries; Jared Hetzler 2 interceptions.

- Key facts: Friday is Muscatine’s final home game of the season, meaning all the seniors will be recognized before the game. The Muskies close out the season at North Scott and Pleasant Valley. … West has been shut out and held below 130 total yards in a game on four occasions this season. Falcon tailback Logan Corrigan is questionable for the game with a lingering ankle injury. … Muscatine is averaging just 13 points per game and is allowing 26.5 a contest.