GAME OF THE WEEK: Draft takes on Northside

The table is set.

In the lobby of the Stuarts Draft field house, Stuarts Draft coach Rod Bowers put out a visual example for his team to show how the Cougars’ road to a second playoff appearance in as many years has been laid out. It’s a table with plates that bare the names of the schools that are being represented in the Region III, Division 3 playoffs.

Bowers has always preached to the Stuarts Draft players and fans that the program was different than all others and he hopes to bring that to tonight’s playoff game at Northside in Roanoke.

“Anyone can be like Milli Vanilli and have a one-hit wonder, but if you want your program to develop down the path you envision, making the playoffs is a big part of that,” Bowers said. “It’s like a present at the end of the season, but it validates what our philosophy is … our philosophy is different than most teams. This just proves that it’s truth and not fallacy.”

The Vikings are similar in many ways to the Cougars.

Both finished the regular season with 5-5 records and were in wait-and-see mode a week ago. Northside coach Burt Torrence is also a Valley alum, having coached at Rockbridge County High School, where he faced Bowers when the third-year Draft coach was still at Broadway.

“I know that Northside is good as anyone that we have seen this year,” Bowers said. “They are big and strong and fast. They’ve got everything they need to be successful.”

Torrence said that while there are some similarities between the two teams, their styles on the field vary. Draft is a ball-control, run oriented team while the Vikings’ strengths are big plays and speed.

“We are a physical football team,” Torrence said. “We have some speed that adds to that danger factor that any play can go all the way. We are also happy lining up and going at you for five yards a pop, but we are not as ball-control focused as Draft is.”

The Cougars are also youthful, with only seven seniors and 10 juniors.

“These kids have bounced around in so many different directions … one game we would have tremendous effort then the next we wouldn’t,” Bowers said. “I’d like to attribute that to the youth of our football team, but I won’t let them use that as an excuse. If they have been in the program for two years they know what we expect.”

Draft went on a four-game losing streak before winning the final two games of the year to clinch a spot in the playoffs. The final win against Rockbridge was where Bowers said his team finally came together.

“I think the biggest thing was we were lacking the unity that we needed this year,” he said. “Fortunately we go into two overtimes [against Rockbridge] and the kids realize that when you come together and play for God’s glory he is going to bless you. I felt really blessed on that night.”

The winner of tonight’s game will have an even bigger challenge next week — a trip to Brookville. The Bees are undefeated this season and are the top rated team in Division 3.

“You don’t look ahead, that’s when you get caught,” Torrence said. “I don’t think my kids know who the winner plays. We’ll start concentrating [on that] if we are successful on Friday night.”

Last season Draft was the No. 2 seed in Region III, Division 3 and received a first-round bye. In the semifinals it beat R.E. Lee, but fell to Brookville in the finals.

“Everyone is healthy,” Bowers said. “I don’t know if they are fresh but they are healthy. We were banged up going into the playoffs. We have the usual nicks and bruises but overall we are healthy.”

Northside hasn’t made a playoff appearance since 2002 and hasn’t won a playoff game since 2000. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.