The high-school football playoffs are finally here, and three area teams will face tough challenges this weekend.
Some teams are used to the playoff atmosphere. Others are not.
The Athens Bulldogs (10-0), seeded second in Division III, Region 12, are making their first playoff appearance since 1990. They face seventh-seeded Jackson (10-0) Friday night at home. The contest features the only matchup of unbeaten teams in Region 12. The Bulldogs hope to improve their first-ever 10-0 season with a playoff win.
Jackson has played similar competition to Athens, with six common opponents between the two teams. Bulldogs coach Ryan Adams said he knows just how evenly matched the two teams are.
“I don’t think you can look at seeds really. If you’re in the top eight, you deserve to be there,” Adams said. “It’s a very evenly matched-up football game, and they’re a very good football team on both sides of the ball.”
To get the win against such competition, Athens might have to clean up its game a little bit. Despite getting the victory last week against Nelsonville-York, Athens had six turnovers and more than 100 yards in penalties.
“I think the key this week is going to be reducing the penalties and the turnovers and playing some really fundamentally sound football,” Adams said. “Certainly your team is not going to be able to come out on top making those kinds of mistakes.”
Starting quarterback Josh Skinner is likely still out with a separated shoulder.
Nelsonville-York (9-1), the fourth seed in Division V, Region 19, is the most-playoff-hardened team in the area, with 14 tournament appearances and one state title. The Buckeyes play fifth-seeded Portsmouth West (9-1) Friday night.
Coach Dave Boston said his team is ready after last week’s heartbreaking loss to Athens.
“Our kids are hungry again, and they know what they need to do. We just have to get it done. That’s the way it is,” Boston said. “We need to get back to the basics and work hard and try to redeem ourselves.”
Whichever team wins the battle of the trenches could decide the game.
“They’re big and physical, and they throw the ball when they need to,” Boston said. “We’re just going to have to get back to the basics and stop a good power football team.”
Eighth-seeded Trimble (7-3) faces first-seeded Symmes Valley (9-1) in the Division VI, Region 23 quarterfinals. The Tomcats are making their eighth appearance in the tournament and hope to pull the first-round upset, something they were unable to do last year.
Coach Phil Faires said he thinks his team has seen competition similar to the talent level of Semmes Valley.
“We played some pretty tough teams early, even starting with our scrimmages,” Faires said.
To get the victory, Trimble might have to rely a little bit more on quarterback Justin Jewell and the passing game, especially because standout running back Austin Keith is battling ankle problems.
“We were pretty good (with the pass) last week,” Faires said. “We'll just play it by ear and see what they're giving up.”
After challenging state-runner up Shadyside last year, Faires said he is optimistic that this year’s team could win playing the role of underdog.
“Except for a few miscues by one of our stars — we usually don't expect that — we could have pulled off an upset pretty easily,” Faires said. “They played for a state championship last year, so if we give that same effort this year, I think we can move on.”
All three teams will have to bring their “A” game if indeed they are to move forward.
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