Win and you’re in! The playoffs for Waxahachie and Lake Ridge start this week. The two teams are battling for the last playoff spot in District 10-5A. Last year Lake Ridge made it to the state title game, but was disposed of easily by George Ranch 56-0. For Waxahachie in the most Texan way possible and something like a scene from the movie Friday Night Lights missed the playoffs by losing a coin flip inside a Whataburger.
Lake Ridge had big hopes of returning to the title game, but now they will be battling just to join the dance of the postseason. If you look at the season stats, one can start to wonder how Lake Ridge got to this point. They are negative in point differential, and they have lost their lost two by a combined 38 points. Prior to their two game skid the Eagles had a three game winning streak, and the offense was flying high scoring at least 41 points during their winning streak. In the four losses the Eagles have their defense has allowed close to 50 points per game, and in the five wins they have cut that in half and only allowed 24 points per game. It’s easy to point at the defense being the key to the Eagles success.
Waxahachie won’t need a coin flip to decide their fate this season as it is in their own hands. Three weeks ago the Indians looked to be a lock for the playoffs and possibly the district champs, and then the wheels fell off. After starting the season 6-0 and 3-0 in district a three game losing streak has the Indians wondering what just happened. It’s possible to say that the Indians were playing the bottom feeders of the district and then ran into the top three teams. Once again and just like Lake Ridge you can point to the defense as a big reason for their teams struggle. The Indians defense hadn’t allowed more than 21 points in district wins, but not all can be blamed on the defense. The offense has slowed as well, in the Indians wins they scored 41,42,42 and in their losses have failed to score more than 35.
One team has to end their losing streak to get into the playoffs, as a coach and player just getting in is all you can ask for. The question is who will return to earlier season form, will it be the Lake Ridge defense or the Waxahachie offense. Someone will step up, but who?
Brought To You By
