Ever since they experienced the dreadful lows of a 1-9 season back in 2015, the Bradford Owls have made strides in each successive year. They improved to 4-6 in 2016 and then 7-3 last year when they got back to the playoffs.
Even this year’s 6-4 regular season mark can be seen as progress as sorts, since the Owls faced a much more difficult schedule in the first year of the District 9 Football League.
But everyone on Bradford knows that real progress is measured by success in the postseason, and it’s there where the Owls haven’t broken through in quite some time. Bradford hasn’t won a playoff game since claiming back-to-back District 9 titles in 2006 and 2007.
It’s a streak the Owls will hope to erase on Saturday when they travel to Bald Eagle Area High to face the Bellefonte Red Raiders (8-2) in the District 6/9 Class AAAA Semifinals.
Bradford will first have to erase the memory of last week’s humbling 40-0 loss to Oil City in its regular season finale.
For head coach Jeff Puglio, that hasn’t been a problem.
“We’re not even thinking about that loss,” he said bluntly. “All of our focus has been on Bellefonte.”
After losing back-to-back games earlier in the season to Clearfield and Penns Valley, the Red Raiders have won three in a row. Much like the Owls, Bellefonte is powered by a strong running game headlined by running back C.J. Funk, who has over 1,300 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. Quarterback Kyle Myers, meanwhile, is a threat through the air (906 yards, 11 TDs, 2 interceptions) and on the ground (495 yards, 3 TDs).
On the other side, the Red Raiders’ defense allows less than 17 points per game and is led by defensive end Caleb Rockey, who has a whopping 17 sacks on the season.
“I think it’s going to be a tough, physical game,” Puglio said. “We’re going to have to win up front and that’s something I think we can do. Our defense can match up with their offense and take advantage in some areas. I think our offense can do the same thing. There are some places where we’ve got the personnel where we can take advantage.”
Even though Bradford is coming off of its poorest offensive showing of the season, and even though the playoffs is usually when coaches empty their playbooks, Puglio doesn’t see his team straying too far from what’s worked for them all year.
“You’re always looking for advantages, but we know what got us here,” Puglio said. “There aren’t going to be any dramatic shifts. Our offense has played well especially in the second half of the season. We’re going to keep doing the things we’ve been doing well.”
While most of the first round of D-9 playoff action will be taking place tonight, the Owls will have to wait an extra day to hit the field. While Puglio and his players are obviously anxious to go out and play, the extra day of rest provides some needed recuperation time for a team that has had its share of injury problems this season.
“It’s a little bit of both,” Puglio said of the pros and cons of the extra day off. “We kind of needed the extra day of rest. With the grind of the year, you need some time to heal up, so it’s nice for us to have that extra day and do that. I think the practices have been good. It’s definitely a little different feeling and the kids have handled it well this week.”
Perhaps the biggest advantage the Owls will have going for them is how many players with postseason experience they have on the roster. With a senior class of more than two dozen who played in last year’s 35-13 playoff loss to Johnstown, Bradford doesn’t have to worry about those first playoff game jitters.
“It’s something special you have to experience and that you have to get used to,” Puglio said about playoff football. “We have a lot of guys who got that experience last year and they aren’t going to be fazed by anything.”
On to the picks:
Class AAAA
Bradford (6-4) vs. Bellefonte (8-2)
I expect this year’s playoff game to be much more competitive than last year’s. Unfortunately, I still see the same result for the Owls. BELLEFONTE by 9.
Class AA
Moniteau (6-4) at Clarion (6-4)
Hard to believe that Clarion was 6-0 at one point this year. They’ve lost four in a row for those counting at home. The Bobcats should probably win handily, but they haven’t shown much to be optimistic about recently. CLARION by 7.
Class A
Union/A-C Valley (4-6) at Smethport (9-0)
The Hubbers haven’t won a playoff game since 1998 — before anyone on this year’s team was even born. I don’t see Smethport’s perfect season coming to an end just yet. SMETHPORT by 20.
Curwensville (6-4) at Elk County Catholic (7-2)
These two teams met way back in Week 0 when ECC won 34-14. Crusaders’ running back Stephen Bobby (20 touchdowns) has made the end zone his second home this season. Expect more of the same tonight. ECC by 14.
Coudersport (5-4) at Redbank Valley (7-3)
The Falcons have had plenty of time to stew on their crushing last-minute loss to Smethport that cost them the Small School North title. They’ll have to rebound against a Redbank team that defeated them 41-27 just three weeks ago. I think they just might do it. COUDY by 3.
Otto-Eldred (5-5) at Clarion-Limestone (8-2)
It won’t be hard for Otto’s defense to be better than the last time these two met: the Terrors gave up 74 points to the Lions back in late September. C-L’s Austin Newcomb has been running roughshod all over D-9 defenses this year, to the tune of 36 total touchdowns. C-L by 18.
