Cushing Excited For First Playoff Game Since 1997

[By Stephen Amason, Special to ETSN.fm]

After 21 years of down seasons and not seeing the postseason, some may have started to wonder if the Cushing Bearkats would ever reach the playoffs again.

It’s been quite a while since Cushing has been there, but Bearkats first-year head football coach Josh Moore said the he and the players are excited to have a crack at championship gold.

The Bearkats were 6-4 overall in the regular season and 2-3 in District 10-2A Division I, and were rewarded with their first playoff appearance since 1997.

Moore is proud of what his team has done so far this season.

“It means a lot to us, to the school, and the community,” Moore said. “The players are excited and now we just gotta go out there and play good football.”

Moore said he has a vision of Cushing making a habit of getting to the playoffs and looks forward continuing to develop the program.

Cushing has been led by an outstanding playmaker in Keyontae Rollison.

Rollison has hauled in 38 receptions for 994 yards on the year and rushed for 159 yards on 41 carries with a total of 16 touchdowns this season.

“He’s our playmaker,” Moore said of Rollison. “Just a great player, a great kid, does everything right. He’s leader both on and off the field, he means a lot to the team.”

The Bearkats’ first playoff test will be against Centerville (7-3) in a 2A Division I bi-district playoff game Friday night in Crockett.

“They’re a real good football team and we just gotta go out there and play our best football, not make mistakes and control the line of scrimmage,” Moore said.