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The Bearcats open up their playoff run with a matchup against Trinity Christian School. The 6-4 Trinity Christian Lions enter the playoffs as a No. 4 seed and are led by head coach Kenny Dallas.

Bearcat’s head coach, Jeff Littleton, said it’s business as usual for the team this week. Littleton has taken the Bearcats to the playoffs every season of his 11-year tenure in Bainbridge, and the ‘23 senior class has been to quarter-finals or better in the past three seasons. 

“We have a playoff championship week planned every week,” Littleton said. “It’s just the standard that we set as coaches and an administration… That standard includes responsibility, hard work, determination, commitment level. All of that.”

Though he’s not making any major changes to how the team prepares, Littleton said he emphasized his players being the best on Saturday. The Lions enter playoffs with a win against their region’s top team under their belt, something Littleton said can be a threat.

“If you’re not at your best, they can beat you,” Littleton said. “That’s something that we kind of looked at and got across to our kids.”

Junior quarterback Ronnie Fere takes the snaps for the Lions with senior running back Phoenix Moss in the backfield with him. The two have been the Lions’ bread and butter this season, along with junior wide receiver Logan Moss catching passes.

Defensively, The Lions boast two-way lineman Cameron Matthews — a six-foot, 244-pound wrecking ball who has recorded 40 tackles on the season and has committed to Navy. Behind him is senior linebacker Cody Anderson, who has made 96 tackles this season. 

“They got a really good box,” Littleton said. “Meaning their four linebackers,… Their linebackers are really physical and really well-coached.”

Littleton said his players are capable of handling the weapons that Trinity Christian will bring.

“They’re definitely about it,” Littleton said. “It shows with their hard work during the week, and it shows with their relentless pursuit and play on Friday nights.”

As the Bearcats prepare for the matchup on Saturday, one thing is clear: if they lose, the season’s over.

“It’s do or die,” Littleton said. “I love it like that.”

The Bearcats will welcome Trinity Christian to Centennial field for the round one dual. The game will be played on Saturday, Nov. 11, Kickoff is at 2 p.m.