Published: November 10, 2007 09:32 pm      

Lions headed to playoffs for first time in 16 years

The town of Blooming Grove woke up Saturday morning feeling something it hasn’t felt in over 15 years — playoff fever.

According to coach Ronnie Wilson, over half of the town of Blooming Grove drove to Frankston yesterday and held their breath, hoping for that ever so elusive playoff berth.

Blooming Grove fans blended well with the Frankston fans in their Lion blue. After all, Blooming Grove and Frankston share the same royal blue as their school colors.

After Frankston’s 56-48 win over Kerens, the Lions (4-6; 3-3 in District 20-2A) will be headed to the postseason for the first time since 1991.

Thus making the long ride home from Frankston a little bit more easier.

“This town really supports this team and they have always wanted success,” Wilson said. “We have played some really great football this season and have been in every game. No one has been able to blow us out this year and that goes to the determination of these kids.”

The Lions will have a tough challenge in their first playoff game in 16 years.

Of the three teams from District 20-2A, Blooming Grove has the highest enrollment which sends the Lions as the Division I representative in the Class 2A playoffs.

Their reward — playing the defending Class 2A state champions and back-to-back state champion the Tatum Eagles from District 19-2A. Tatum won the Class 3A state championship in 2005 before dropping down to Class 2A in district realignment in 2006.

Blooming Grove and Tatum will play their playoff game 7 p.m., Thursday at Bruce Stadium in Athens.

“Tatum is a very good football team and they have a lot of speed,” Wilson said. “It’s going to take a perfect game to win this one, but I told the kids, if you win this one, you know where you stand.”

When the Lions started district play in Week 4, the playoffs seemed like it might have been out of reach.

Blooming Grove was 1-3 going into district play and a 15-14 loss to Rice might have made the playoffs seem more out of reach.

The Lions, however, turned the tide in Week 6 with a 17-16 upset over Kerens and with a little help in a crazy district season, set up the season finale against Italy in a game where the Lions were a win away from putting themselves in a position for the playoffs.

“We haven’t quit all season,” Wilson said.

“We started the season 1-3 and then went on to win the right games. It just shows the ability of these kids and their determination.”

It might have been destiny for the Lions that got them into the playoffs.

After a 38-7 rout of Italy in a game where everything seemed to click together, all the Lions needed was a Kerens loss to Frankston, which happened on Friday

Kerens, however, wasn’t too keen on helping out Blooming Grove.

The Bobcats put up 48 points and got a huge game from sophomore standout Pat Faulk, who had 423 yards of total offense and five total touchdowns.

Both teams combined for 875 yards of offense in a game with a total 104 points scored.

“My hat goes off to coach (Russell) Anderson and the job he has done over there in his first year,” Wilson said. “You score 48 points in a game, you expect to win.”

Now that the regular season is history, Wilson said his team will get to work on Monday in a short week to prepare for a very tough game.

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Michael Adams may be contacted via e-mail at adams@corsicanadailysun.com