Published: November 12, 2009 09:30 pm      

Friday Night Spotlight: Looking for a playoff win in the Golden Circle

Tigers coach Phil Castles gave his team extra motivation after Tuesday night's practice at Tiger Stadium.

He drove home the chance to play for Golden Footballs. They're the trophies schools can purchase for each round they win in the playoffs. Usually every player's name is inscribed at the bottom of the trophy, which is pretty cool 20 years after the fact.

Lately in the Golden Circle, the golden has been taken out of football.

The last time a local school had an option of buying one of those gold footballs to display in their trophy case came back in 2005 when Corsicana won a bi-district game, and Kerens and Dawson won second-round games.

Since then, it's been a dry spell. Four teams hope to change that Friday night — Corsicana, Dawson, Kerens and Mildred.

The last time at least four Golden Circle teams made the playoffs in the same season? 2005 when five teams made it. The schools? Corsicana, Dawson, Kerens, Rice and Mildred.

Mildred has the longest current streak of playoff appearances with five. The Eagles may have the best chance of getting a Golden Football. Mildred lost to Lone Oak, 41-0, last year in the first round of the playoffs. But the Eagles have a different feel to them this year with a group of young players who have provided energy and confidence.

Dawson and Kerens are making their second straight playoff appearance. Again, both the Bulldogs and Bobcats will be trying to win their first playoff game in four years.

The Tigers' drought is well documented. Corsicana is in the playoffs for the first time since 2006. The Tigers lost to Waco High at Tiger Stadium, 41-17.

Corsicana's last playoff win? A 47-18 pasting of Dallas Pinkston. The Tigers lost the next week to Killeen Ellison, 38-21.

All of this tells you making the playoffs is an accomplishment. Frost has a 7-year playoff drought. It's been five years for Hubbard. Four for Wortham. Three for Rice. Only one for Blooming Grove.

Of course, the desired Golden Football is what all teams play for. Blooming Grove last won a playoff game in 1977. Frost in 1989. Hubbard in 1994.

All of the other Golden Circle school have won a playoff games this decade, except for Rice, which hasn't won in the postseason.

So will the playoff drought end this year?

I say it does. Corsicana and Mildred will win. Kerens can win. Dawson has the toughest first round opponent, Mart, just based on playoff tradition.

Then again Dawson might have the best all-around team.

All we're asking is for the madness to end. The Golden Circle wants a Golden Football.