Braves fighting for shot at second consecutive playoff run

As the football season nears its end, coaches and players look hopefully towards the playoffs and look back on what the season has looked like so far.

Assistant coach Wendell Smith said the team has had a very good year, despite struggling a little more in games compared to last year's conference championship team.

"We've been in some close football games and I guess we've displayed the will to win," he said. "The most important statistic is whether or not we win."

Smith also said that the team has shown a resiliency to win that is becoming a tradition.

"We've found ways to win as a team," he said. We've had great team unity for the last ten years."

Smith mentioned Junior wide receiver CJ Krug as a key player this year.

Krug moved from quarterback to slot receiver this year, and said he had to learn a new position as he continued to improve his game.

Among his highlights of the season, which included a game-winning touchdown against Sterling, Krug said that the first game against Baker was big.

He also mentioned the October 30 game against Kansas Wesleyan University.

"We came back in the final minute to score two touchdowns and win the victory," he said.

Smith said the biggest needs for next year will be in recruiting.

"We have some key seniors we need to replace," he said. "We're recruiting a new kicker and punter. We don't have a large senior class this year but they've been key players for us for three years."

Smith said the most important thing with new freshmen is to get them playing experience so they can be future leaders on the team.

Krug said he also wants to be a leader on the team.

"I'm going to be a senior," he said. "I'm going to have underclassmen looking up to me."

Head coach Kent Kessinger said they won't know until the final game of the season whether the team makes the playoffs.

"We need to win our last two games," he said.

The Braves won its first of those two games on November 6, winning 39-33 against Bethany.

Their next game is against Friends University, 1:30 p.m., Saturday at home.