Despite struggles, Northeast can clinch playoff berth
Northeast's season has been marked by adversity, player attrition and a lengthy losing streak. But despite all of that, the Raiders have the opportunity to punch their ticket to the GHSA Class AA playoffs.
All Northeast has to do is beat Monticello on Friday at Thompson Stadium with the winner gaining the final playoff spot out of the Region 4-AA. Both teams sport 1-8 overall and 1-3 region records.
"We've been telling them that it'll go down to the end and that it's not about how you start, it's how you finish and try to encourage them," Northeast head coach Bruce Mullen said. "They've persevered."
The Raiders picked up their first win of the season last week in a 32-12 decision against Bleckley County to give themselves a shot to earn their way into the postseason, where they would face the top seed from Region 1-AA, Brooks County.
A trip to the postseason would be the first for Northeast since 2012.
Monticello and Northeast aren't the only teams in the region with something on the line Friday. While Putnam County has clinched the No. 3 seed, Macon County and Lamar County's showdown in Barnesville will decide the region champion and runner-up.
"After listening to even some of their own classmates talking about how bad they are, they kept believing, kept playing and kept coming," Mullen said. "Now, they still have a chance. It makes them feel good, and I know it makes me feel good as their coach."
In a season in which some teams would have relented, the Raiders have hung in there. That resilience has shown itself in recent weeks.
Despite being shut out in consecutive losses to Putnam County and Lamar County, Northeast hung with Macon County on Oct. 23, losing 35-29.
The momentum carried over to last week against Bleckley County, sparking the Raiders to a win with freshman quarterback Nolan Ussery and running back Rontravious Williams leading the way.
"Before the Macon County game, we talked to them about giving a good effort, and that just carried onto the Macon County game," Mullen said. "And to play against them and have a chance to win the game and come up just short, I think the kids got some confidence, and I think it showed last week against Bleckley County."
As it turns out, needing to beat Monticello for a postseason spot is nothing new for Northeast. The Raiders were in the same situation last year and led the Hurricanes 21-0 before the Hurricanes stormed back to win 53-37.
The previous season, Northeast lost a mini-playoff game that decided the region's final postseason berth.
This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 9:07 PM with the headline "Despite struggles, Northeast can clinch playoff berth ."