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With two regular-season games remaining, there is by far nothing set in stone when it comes to the district playoffs.
Bethel’s Wildcats and Chandler’s Lions are all too aware of that as the two teams prepare to face off this week in a vital District 3A-4 contest in Chandler. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday.
“The kids know this is a big opportunity and a big game for us,” said Bethel head coach Eddie Paul, whose Wildcats are 3-5 overall and 2-2 in District 3A-4 following last week’s 35-14 romp of Prague.
It was Bethel’s second consecutive win following a 28-14 showing against Star Spencer.
“There’s still playoff implications,” Paul said. “There’s kind of a jigsaw puzzle of possibilities.”
Bethel is currently tied for third with Little Axe (4-4, 2-2) and Prague (2-6, 2-2), while Perkins-Tryon (7-1, 4-1) remains first and Bristow (4-4, 3-1) holds down second place. Perkins-Tryon’s sole loss came via a stunning 32-27 upset to Prague two weeks ago, and Bristow’s lone district loss was an identical score opposite Chandler the same night.
Prague visits Little Axe Friday, while Perkins-Tryon heads to Bristow. The seventh 3A-4 member, Star Spencer (1-7, 1-4), steps out of district play this week to play at Victory Christian.
Chandler (1-7, 1-4) is one notch above last-place Star Spencer in the rankings. Only the top four teams in the district at the end of the regular season will go to the playoffs.
“It’s a pretty important game for us,” Chandler head coach Neal Bacon said of this week’s matchup. “We’ve got to win to get a chance at the playoffs, and I know (the Wildcats) feel the same way.”
The Lions, following their shocker against Bristow, fell back into their turnover woes last week in a 28-7 stumble to Perkins-Tryon.
“We’ve just got to hold on to the football,” Bacon said. “We put ourselves in a hole.”
Chandler turned the ball over three times inside the Perkins-Tryon 30-yard line, and each turnover resulted in a score for the Demons.
Opposite Prague, things looked bleak early on for Bethel. The Wildcats failed to capitalize on a scoring opportunity late in the first half, and went into the third quarter trailing 14-7.
“We carried that momentum into the second half and the kids played well,” Paul said. The Wildcats scored 28 uncontested points down the stretch.
Paul credited the Wildcats with having one of their best outings in all three phases of play — offense, defense and special teams.
Paul and Bacon hold a great deal of respect for each other’s respective squads. Paul knows the Lions can be a threat on the ground or through the skies, and Bacon believes his defense will have a chore in containing Bethel’s leading rusher, quarterback Clint Duncan.
“He’s a good athlete,” Bacon said of Duncan, who had more than 500 yards rushing and close to 430 yards passing coming into last week’s game at Prague.
Duncan scored back-to-back-to-back touchdown runs of 27 yards, 3 yards and 2 yards opposite the Red Devils.
Overall, Bethel has all bodies healthy and able for Friday night. Chandler, however, will be without starting offensive tackle Spenser Seeley. The 6-2, 280-pound sophomore will be sidelined with a knee injury, but may be able to return for Week 10 opponent Little Axe, Bacon said.
With two regular-season games remaining, there is by far nothing set in stone when it comes to the district playoffs.
Bethel’s Wildcats and Chandler’s Lions are all too aware of that as the two teams prepare to face off this week in a vital District 3A-4 contest in Chandler. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday.
“The kids know this is a big opportunity and a big game for us,” said Bethel head coach Eddie Paul, whose Wildcats are 3-5 overall and 2-2 in District 3A-4 following last week’s 35-14 romp of Prague.
It was Bethel’s second consecutive win following a 28-14 showing against Star Spencer.
“There’s still playoff implications,” Paul said. “There’s kind of a jigsaw puzzle of possibilities.”
Bethel is currently tied for third with Little Axe (4-4, 2-2) and Prague (2-6, 2-2), while Perkins-Tryon (7-1, 4-1) remains first and Bristow (4-4, 3-1) holds down second place. Perkins-Tryon’s sole loss came via a stunning 32-27 upset to Prague two weeks ago, and Bristow’s lone district loss was an identical score opposite Chandler the same night.
Prague visits Little Axe Friday, while Perkins-Tryon heads to Bristow. The seventh 3A-4 member, Star Spencer (1-7, 1-4), steps out of district play this week to play at Victory Christian.
Chandler (1-7, 1-4) is one notch above last-place Star Spencer in the rankings. Only the top four teams in the district at the end of the regular season will go to the playoffs.
“It’s a pretty important game for us,” Chandler head coach Neal Bacon said of this week’s matchup. “We’ve got to win to get a chance at the playoffs, and I know (the Wildcats) feel the same way.”
The Lions, following their shocker against Bristow, fell back into their turnover woes last week in a 28-7 stumble to Perkins-Tryon.
“We’ve just got to hold on to the football,” Bacon said. “We put ourselves in a hole.”
Chandler turned the ball over three times inside the Perkins-Tryon 30-yard line, and each turnover resulted in a score for the Demons.
Opposite Prague, things looked bleak early on for Bethel. The Wildcats failed to capitalize on a scoring opportunity late in the first half, and went into the third quarter trailing 14-7.
“We carried that momentum into the second half and the kids played well,” Paul said. The Wildcats scored 28 uncontested points down the stretch.
Paul credited the Wildcats with having one of their best outings in all three phases of play — offense, defense and special teams.
Paul and Bacon hold a great deal of respect for each other’s respective squads. Paul knows the Lions can be a threat on the ground or through the skies, and Bacon believes his defense will have a chore in containing Bethel’s leading rusher, quarterback Clint Duncan.
“He’s a good athlete,” Bacon said of Duncan, who had more than 500 yards rushing and close to 430 yards passing coming into last week’s game at Prague.
Duncan scored back-to-back-to-back touchdown runs of 27 yards, 3 yards and 2 yards opposite the Red Devils.
Overall, Bethel has all bodies healthy and able for Friday night. Chandler, however, will be without starting offensive tackle Spenser Seeley. The 6-2, 280-pound sophomore will be sidelined with a knee injury, but may be able to return for Week 10 opponent Little Axe, Bacon said.
