By Bart Moss

For the FCT

The Phil Campbell Bobcats’ first trip to the playoffs since 2005 was a great experience and a great reminder all rolled into one.

The Bobcats were fourth-place finishers in their 2A region play. They had to travel across the state to the Georgia line to face Ranburne, who finished first in their region.

The Phil Campbell booster club spared no expense to reward their team on making the playoffs for the first time in nine years. They chartered two buses – one for the team and one for the band, cheerleaders, dance team and fans. They held a pep rally in the middle of town the week before the game. They sold shirts and sweaters to commemorate the occasion. They ate at nice restaurant on the way to the game.

The team was excited. The school was excited. The community was excited. It was an experience the players wouldn’t soon forget.

And that was the point.

As one parent said, “We know the game will be tough but we believe this team has the potential the next few years to be a playoff team. We want them to get the hoopla out of their system this year and be prepared and focused in the future to go to the playoffs and win games.”

When the young Bobcats hit the field against a top-ranked Ranburne team, reality set in. The game was essentially over within a few short minutes as Ranburne piled on the points. They led 15-0 at the end of the first quarter and 35-0 at halftime.

Ranburn led 63-0 before the Bobcats could get their first points on the board. The final score was 63-22.

The great reminder was that even though the Bobcats had come a long way to reach the playoffs, they had a long way to go to be competitive in the playoffs. Not one team in Phil Campbell’s region won a first round playoff game. Hatton and Sulligent both lost lopsided games. Red Bay lost by a narrow margin.

Getting to the playoffs was goal number one for head coach Ryan Swinney. Goal number two is to get back to the playoffs and win.

“We were super excited to make the playoffs,” Swinney said.

“We saw what a championship-level team looked like. We saw how they played and how they competed. That is where we want to be.

“It’s going to take a lot of work during the off-season in the weight room and on the field to get to the level we want to be at, but we can do it. I am confident in that. It’s not easy – it’s hard. It takes hard work and focused determination. I can’t wait to get started again.”