It has also been very difficult for them to put together a long streak of games where they played with focus. This was never more evident than in their 12-7 loss early in the season to Berea. Even more visible in the 7-0 loss to Harlan two weeks later, both of which Pineville should have won.
This isn’t a team with a lack of heart though. The boys from Pineville always play with heart. A lack of talent is also not to be blamed. With kids like Alvin Smith and Al Merrick, Pineville has the talent to win.
It isn’t a lack of coaching either. Bart Elam’s system works, as shown in Pineville’s three wins this season.
This has everything to do with the redistricting that gave all 4 teams in this district a playoff spot before the first handoff of the season. One of the hardest jobs a coach has is in keeping his kids motivated for every second of every game. When you’re guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, it makes that job even more difficult.
I remember a Pineville team in 1994 though. That team only won 4 games that season under Jeff Robbins, but it was enough to make the playoffs for the first time in years. That was when Pikeville was the Class A powerhouse every year, and that was the team Pineville had to go on the road and play in the first round. Pikeville was picked to win by more than 4 touchdowns. That Pineville team was tied at Pikeville with 2 minutes left to go.
This Pineville team has everything that team had, plus the speed to play with anyone in this class. This team doesn’t need to wait two weeks for their playoff run to begin. Pineville High School’s playoff run starts this week against 8-1 Williamsburg, and in the words of our newly elected President, “Yes We Can.”
The Mountain Lions game at Williamsburg kicks off at 7:30 p.m. tonight.
Jamin Leger is a sports correspondent for The Daily News.
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