Portal is back in the state playoffs for the first time in three seasons and will get to play on its home turf – where it holds an 8-game winning streak – Friday as the Panthers host Glascock County in the Class A state tournament.
“It’s been a journey,” Portal coach Jason McEachin said. “And it’s part of a process. Our seniors were on a region championship team as freshmen. Maybe they weren’t playing much then, but they all bought in and have kept building this program to get us to a spot where every one of them is contributing each Friday to get us to where we are now.”
Portal earned a home date in the postseason by bouncing back from a loss to ECI two weeks ago and thumping McIntosh County Academy in last week’s regular season finale.
McEachin credited the maturity of his team. He noted that the late loss didn’t carry over into the final week of play and that they were able to take control early against MCA and build on the momentum throughout the night.
The same steady outlook is being preached this week.
"We're a 10 seed and (Glascock) is 23," McEachin said. "A lot of people will go ahead and write us in already. We know we can't think that way and we know they're going to have a chip on their shoulder hearing about how they aren't going to win."
One of Portal's biggest strengths heading into the postseason is that it has won in many different ways and always seems up to the challenge.
The Panthers have won in overtime. They've dominated some games and come from behind in others. They've found late offense and last-minute defensive stops.
The only thing new for most of the Portal roster is the chance to compete in the state playoffs.
"Glascock is similar to us," McEachin said. "They're a smaller school that has figured out a plan and a method to find success.
"They run the ball like we do and both of us want to stay ahead of the chains when we're on offense. If they have their way, they'd love to get first downs, run the clock, and make it a game where every possession is crucial. At this point, every team has earned their way into the playoffs, so it's about executing and playing well from here."
