Bradford High is the underdog tonight.

So, tell the Owls something they don’t know!

“Sure we know we’re the underdog,” head coach Steve Ackerman
said Wednesday night. “People down that way probably think we
shouldn’t even make the trip, but that doesn’t bother us.

“We’ll just play the best game we can and see where the chips
fall,” he added.

First, the Owls have to get to the game, which is a mere
200-mile jaunt to Shamokin where they will play 2nd ranked and
unbeaten (12-0) Selinsgrove in the first round of the PIAA Class
AAA playoffs.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Shamokin High School’s Kemp
Memorial Stadium.

Underdog, no doubt, but stop a think about the last time the
Owls weren’t given that tag headed into the state playoffs.

“We’re right where we want to be,” Ackerman continued. “We don’t
mind being in the position we’re in. We’ve been there before.
Nobody gives us a chance.

“They (Selinsgrove) have a real stout team with a lot of good
kids. But we’re in the game, so we have a chance and that’s the way
we’re looking at it.

“To beat them we have to play a perfect game. We can’t have any
turnovers and we can’t make dumb penalties like last week. If we do
that and we get a coupe of breaks anything can happen.

“We have to play hard and if they are the better team on Friday
night then they’ll win the game,” he added.

One of the problems the Owls face is the fact that the Seals
platoon. They basically have separate offensive and defensive
units, similiar to college and pro teams. Nearly all of Bradford’s
starters play on both sides of the ball.

“They do have the kids so they can platoon, but we run into that
every year,” Ackerman pointed out. “We just can’t get excited about
everything we read and hear. Our kids are pretty low key and they
know they just have to go out and play the game.”

As strange as it may sound, the two teams are averaging about
the same number of points per game. The Seals are putting up 37
points a contest and the Owls 35.

“They are a 60-40 team with the run coming first,” Ackerman
noted.

Selinsgrove head coach William Scott is well aware of Bradford’s
scoring potential as well.

“They score a lot of points,” said Scott. “What really concerns
us are the counters Bradford runs. When you have a fast-flow
defense like ours, you always have to be concerned with cut backs
on the counters.

“We’re not real big on the defensive side of the ball, but we
are quick and our 3-5 defense is based on that quickness. We feel
it all starts with our defense. We’ve gotten a lot of short fields
this season and that’s because of our defensive pressure.

“I haven’t seen Bradford play, but we got scouting reports from
their game with Clearfield last week and I know they played much
better in the second half of that game.

“We also know that their first game was pretty much a blowout
and then Clearfield scored a couple of meaningless touchdowns at
the end,” he added.

Scott was quick to point out that despite being a heavy
favorite, his team isn’t taking Bradford lightly.

“We’re not looking past anyone. We’ve sold our kids on the fact
that one loss and they’re done,” he emphasized.

Bradford fans planning to make the trip to Shamokin today should
give themselves at least 4-to-5 hours of travel time to make
certain they will arive before the game starts. Travel directions
are printed below.

Take Interstate 80 East to the Danville exit.

Take Route 54 South through Danville, travel through the tunnel
and across a bridge and turn left (still on Route 54).

Stay on Route 54 until reaching the red light in Elysburg
(approximately 15 miles); a Sheetz and a Turkey Hill are located at
the red light.

At the red light, turn right onto Route 487, then continue
straight to Paxinos.

At the red light, turn left onto Route 61 South into Shamokin
(approximately 6 miles). Two lanes converge into one lane.

Take the first right across the bridge and then take an
immediate left down the hill to a red light. Go one block past the
red light and turn right (Arch Street). Go three stop signs and
turn left. Go one block and make a right (Lynn Street).

Continue straight on Lynn Street to the second stop sign.

Take the angular road to Kemp Memorial Stadium.