Anything is possible during the postseason. Upsets are unexpected, but not uncommon. The principle is simple: win and move on, lose and go home.
The battered Bruins football team has faced scores of adversity this year, resulting in a less than impressive 2-7 regular season record. Next week, however, they begin a campaign of difficulty and challenge, but also hope: the district tournament.
The Bruins enter the tournament as an undeniable underdog, seeded sixth out of eight teams. RBHS will face fourth ranked Jefferson City who is seeded third.
In week six of the regular season, the Bruins faced the Jays in a highly competitive game. RBHS fell to Jefferson City, 31-21, but that was not the only loss of the game. Senior starting quarterback Karson Ringdahl injured his lower leg, ending his season.
“[Ringdahl’s injury was a] big loss. Operationally speaking, he’s a great leader for us,” head coach A.J. Ofodile said about his quarterback. “He’s a calming influence in terms of running the offense … it’s a huge blow anytime you lose a captain and a leader.”
The Bruins hope to look past their adversity and accomplish their goals as a team. In order to do so, the team looks to build on its success and adjust its weakness.
“Throughout the season, we have struggled with focus and not reading our keys,” sophomore Trevor Twehous, and Ringdahl’s replacement, said. “We need to focus in and know what is expected of us and execute it.”
For the Bruins, lack of execution was the difference between wins and losses in several close games. Four of the Bruins seven losses were 10 points or less, while two of the losses came against teams ranked in the top four.
Despite the record, the Bruins look to play the role of an underdog.
“Coach [Ofodile] always emphasizes that nobody’s record matters [during the playoffs,” sophomore receiver Reece Jarvis said. “Everybody is 0-0 so we have to leave everything on the field.”
Despite the struggles, the team looks to build off of its strengths to have success in the tournament.
“We have been successful with going hard every play,” Reuter said. “I fully expect us to carry that mentality into the postseason.”
Ofodile described the importance of playing as a team and the elimination of mental mistakes in order to be successful.
Overall, Ofodile has a very simple goal for his team: “Win.”