Last week, three of our county teams went to round one of the playoffs, and two of them lived to see another week.

Undefeated McKenzie will host Linden at home on Friday, and Fort Dale Academy will travel to Bessemer.

Before continuing, let me first congratulate Greenville High on a great season. The Tigers ended 7-4, despite having very few returning seniors. Coach Ben Blackmon does a great job with his players, and I expect to keep seeing more good things coming from this program.

Next, let me urge anyone who loves football and missed last week’s games to make sure to leave your Friday night open this week.

Playoffs are when anything can happen. Playoffs are the time when you can see an 85-yard fumble return and an 85-yard kickoff return during the same game, from the same team (I know because I saw McKenzie’s Emmanuel Johnson and Cliff Pugh do it last Friday). The postseason is also the time when crazy things are known to happen. Underdogs rise to the challenge, the Davids tackle the Goliaths, and a center can score a touchdown off a blocked field goal attempt (a feat accomplished by Fort Dale’s Chance Williams Friday).

The truth is that every team, regardless of performance up to this point, are now in the same boat.

It is win or go home. And for this year’s seniors, every game has the potential to be the final to step on a high school football field.

Our teams need our support-McKenzie and Fort Dale will face possibly their toughest opponents of the season this week. As a former high school athlete, I know the difference that a packed stadium of fans can make on the outcome of a game.

So whether you are a Tiger fan, a Fort Dale Eagle or just a connoisseur of good, hard-hitting football, pack up your gloves and blanket-football of this caliber only comes once a year.