Yoemen enter playoffs as second seed out of 10-3A

Entering their final week of the regular season, the Cameron Yoemen knew that one of two things were going to happen.  The playoffs were already a lock for Cameron, but the positioning was still up in the air as the Yoemen could finish as either the second or third playoff seed. 

With Rockdale’s win over Franklin and Cameron’s win over Troy, everything was settled. 

“We know we are the number two seed,” said Yoemen head coach Tommy Brashear.  “We are all disappointed that we did not get that district championship.  We have to move on and I feel like we done that since the Rockdale game.  I feel good about how our kids have worked and I feel like we are getting better each week.  We have to take that same attitude and that same mindset and take it one game at a time into the playoffs.”

Even though Cameron is out of the running for the number one seed, there is still an outside chance the district championship could be shared.  Rockdale would have to lose to Jarrell in the final week of the season for that to happen.  The Tigers have already clinched the number one seed. 

Cameron finishes the regular season at 8-2 and 5-1 in 10-3A play. 

“I am very pleased with where we are,” said Brashear.  “The second seed is not a bad seed at all.  In fact, some people say it is the better route in the playoffs.  Time will tell on that.  We were a younger team but not anymore with ten games under our belt.  We have some of that experience and we will see how it goes in the playoffs.  We feel good about it.”

The second place seed does provide its advantages.  Though their are no real easy roads in region III, both Rockdale and Malakoff, which are now the two highest ranked teams in the region, are on the other side of the bracket.  Rockdale and Malakoff would have to play in the third round before a potential matchup with Cameron in the fourth (quarterfinal) round. 

However, as the Yoemen know very well, you cannot look ahead to matchups that are not set in stone. 

“We just have to take it one game at a time and we have to have that focus each week and not look past anybody,” said Brashear.  “Once you get to the playoffs you cannot underestimate anybody.  There is an upset in the newspaper every week, whether it is professional ball, college or high school.”

A week off

Cameron is off this week while everyone else in the district wraps up the regular season.  There are different opinions on the bye week, but all signs point to this being helpful for the Yoemen. 

“I think it will benefit us,” said Brashear.  “It wouldn't be my first choice.  I would choose it at the beginning of district, but the way it’s turned out it will be okay.  We already know who we’re playing in West, so we can start preparing for them and what they do.”

In addition, every team at this point of the season has some sort of injuries.  This will give Cameron that extra week to heal up for the postseason run.

“The Troy game was a physical game,” stated Brashear.  “They were very physical up front with their defensive and offensive lines, so you get bumps and bruises that come and go with the game of football.  It’s good to have a week to heal up from that.  We have had some guys that have been out and we are hopeful that we can get all of those guys back by the first playoff game.  It would be awesome if we could be 100 percent and firing on all cylinders.”

Playoff Details

Cameron’s bi-district playoff game has already been set.  The Yoemen will take on the West Trojans on Thursday, November 10 from Waco ISD Stadium at 7:00 p.m.  West closes the regular season this Friday by hosting Eustace.  That game will have no impact on playoff seeding as West has the third seed out of 9-3A locked down. 

At this moment, Cameron’s full attention is on West.     

“I feel like this team has grown up throughout the season and so I’m hopeful that will continue.” said Brashear.  “Our ultimate goal is to go win another state championship.  To do that though, we have to take it one contest at a time and one opponent at a time.”

10-3A

In other 10-3A games, Troy (2-3) will travel to McGregor (2-3) to decide fourth place, Rockdale (5-0) will look to remain perfect on the road at Jarrell (0-5), and Little River Academy (1-4) will try to upset Franklin (3-2).