How to Win a Playoff Game

Zach Barron intercepts a Colbert Heights pass attempt

Our Woodland Bobcats made the 4 hour trip to face the 2 seed, Colbert Heights, this past Friday night. By the end of the first quarter, everyone in the stadium knew that the Cats had come to win. The offense had already put up 21 points and the defense was smothering any Wildcat attempt to put together a drive before twelve minutes had run off the game clock. They continued playing like a team on a mission until the white-shirted subs came in during the forth quarter with a comfortable 41-14 lead. It was the best I'd see them play so far this year. That's how you attack a playoff game. They made it look easy, but I know it never is.

You can't just show up and win a game, especially during the playoffs. The work began on the weekend when the coaching staff spent hours on end breaking down film, studying formations and tendencies, and planning strategies until 2 a.m. Then on Monday, the team went to work. It's not just the hours spent on the practice field. Its more than that. It's the attitude and focus of every player on the team, buying in to what the coaches are teaching, buying in to what they are working for. You win playoff games through focus and preparation. Playoff games can be lost on a practice field. But they aren't necessarily won there.

Both teams have worked hard all week and now it's game time. As a high school cheerleader, I used to yell, "You've got to want it to win it, and we want it bad!" But, the truth is, the other guys want it too. You don't get to win because you want to. You win because you do everything within your power to make sure that your season doesn't end tonight. The O-line blocks a little better and fights in the trenches all night long, because they know that this is where the game is won. The backs run harder, shaking off tackles, fighting for every extra inch, because they know that an inch can be the difference in the game. The quarterback executes the plays with a confidence and focus often lacking in men twice his age. He feels the pressure and feeds off of it. He knows that his 'brothers' depend on his leadership. The defense relentlessly pursues its opponent, refusing to allow their offense to take this game from them. This is our game. We decide who wins it. The Seniors take their game to another level, making a statement, "This will not be our last game. Not tonight."

When you play your best, everyone focused and doing his job, it's your game to win. I'm so proud of the way our team fought Friday night, with pride and determination and class. When you play like that, no matter the outcome of the game, you can't really lose.