Bulldogs ‘so close’ to breakthrough but suffer upset playoff loss to Cyclones

MAHOMET — This season has been bittersweet for John Adkins.

This was his sixth year as the Mahomet-Seymour varsity football coach as well as the seventh-grade boys basketball coach, making this senior year the first he has seen from start to finish.

Adkins knew he had another solid football team good enough to make the Class 5A playoffs and make a first-round game for the fourth year in a row, but he also knew he would eventually have to part ways with this special group of seniors . . He just didn’t expect it to be so early.

The third-seeded Bulldogs lost 24-21 to 14-seeded Sacred Heart-Griffin in the first round Friday night at Frank Dutton Stadium, marking the second straight year their season ended too early. in their opinion, in an upset manner.

“It’s actually really, really hard to think about because it’s hard to watch these seniors go,” Adkins said. “Watching them grow up feels like one of your children is leaving the nest. I won’t see them at practice next week. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but I’m very proud of them for everything they’ve done for this program. I hate that they have to lose this way because they deserve better, but they never give up despite the effort they have shown. I’m incredibly proud of them for how they continue to build our culture.”

MS (7-3) approached this season with all the motivation in the world. After back-to-back trips to the state quarterfinals in 2021 and 2022, the Bulldogs lost to Triad 20-19 in the first round of the 2023 playoffs. That loss haunted them throughout the offseason and led them to a 7-2 regular season this fall and a record fourth straight Apollo Conference title.

It taught them not to take anything for granted, and they certainly weren’t going to do that that Friday. Especially not against a program as rich in tradition as Sacred Heart-Griffin (6-4). Sure, the Cyclones only made the playoffs with a 5-4 record, but this is a team that just two years ago won the 4A state title for the sixth championship in school history.

It would be a battle and the Bulldogs knew it.

“They are much better than their record-breaking shows. They are a very good football club and they train well,” Adkins said. “The history of the name and the golden helmet is here. These kids grow up dreaming of being a Cyclone and they know what a state championship is like. This is what we are trying to achieve. My goal from the minute I got here was to win a state championship and I truly believe we can do that.”

Adkins added that the Bulldogs are close to taking the next step, but will have to wait at least another year for it to happen.

Friday’s game started as expected, with both offenses working every yard and the defense holding strong. The score was scoreless in the first quarter before M.S. broke the seal with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Luke Dyer to Gavin Hammerschmidt. Before halftime, S-G kicked a field goal to make it 7-3 heading into the locker room.

The Cyclones took their first lead late in the third quarter on a 10-yard touchdown run from Cam Brinkman to Demetrius Roberson. Brinkman later tossed a 29-yard score to Seamus O’Brien to give SH a 10-point lead with just under eight minutes left in the game.

“We were down 17-7, and not once did I think we were out of the game,” said MS senior Brock VanDeveer, who had 10 tackles and 43 rushing yards. “We made a big play and they made a big play. This is the game of football and that’s why I love it so much.”

Just when it looked like the Cyclones would cruise to victory, the Bulldogs’ offense woke up. M.S. walked right down the field and scored, landing Cade Ashby on the goal line. The Bulldogs then rolled the dice on an offside kick attempt and recovered it, with Dyer subsequently connecting with Mason Orton for a 48-yard score.

MS took a 21-17 lead within three minutes.

The excitement was short-lived as the Cyclones immediately responded with a 78-yard touchdown run from Brinkman to O’Brien to retake the lead, leaving MS four minutes to do something.

Under pressure, Dyer was forced to throw a contested deep pass and the SH-G defense came away with its second interception of the night to all but seal the deal.

“To be honest, I don’t think it’s even ingrained yet,” VanDeveer said. “This doesn’t even feel like my last high school game. I still feel like a sophomore. Yes, it stings. This sucks so much. Honestly, I have no words.”

There were only two touchdowns scored in the first three quarters, and each team reached the end zone twice in the fourth. Dyer, the team’s senior guard, called the finale “wild” with constant swings, a “rollercoaster of emotions.” While the Bulldogs ultimately didn’t come out on top, he was quick to point out how much potential future MS teams had.

“I’m just really proud of how this team has grown and how far we’ve come,” Dyer said. “Everything happens for a reason. I know the young guys will get better because of this. It definitely sucks because we worked so hard and trained all offseason for this to not end the way we wanted it to. I know the young guys will keep going.” on the right path.”

Just like Adkins said. The point is, the Bulldogs were close. Their three defeats totaled 12 points, and each came down to the final game. They lost 42-41 in double overtime to a talented Highland team in week two, and the following week lost 21-13 to Sycamore, a team that finished the regular season 9-0 and earned first place in 5A.

MS competes against the best teams in the state. All he needs is one to go astray.

“I was so proud of how our kids grew this year,” Adkins said. “I think it will motivate our kids. It’s not an expectation to lose in the first round. We want to win the state title and we’re so close. We need to get over the hump and take the next step. I truly believe we will win the state title before my time here is over. I know we will do this.