The Kingsley-Pierson/River Valley football team wasted no time showing the 11-man sharing agreement between the schools was worthwhile. With a 14-6 win over Tri-Center to finish the regular season 6-2, the two schools qualified for the 11-man playoffs for the first time since 1999 with River Valley and 1991 with Kingsley-Pierson. K-P/RV head coach Dean Norris says it has been a great relationship with great support all around.
The Panthers go into the postseason allowing just 12 points in their final two games combined. Coach Norris says that success stems from letting his athletes be playmakers.
The Panther offense has been spurred on by the versatile play of Beau Goodwin. The senior, who has received a division one football offer, has accounted for 80% of the team’s offensive output leading the way in the running attack too. Goodwin ran for 167 yards and two touchdowns in the win at Tri-Center, and Coach Norris says his athleticism plus a good offensive line is a match made in heaven.
As the third-place team out of district eight, K-P/RV will be on the road to Marcus to take on district one’s runner-up in MMCRU. It will be a historic playoff game on both sides, and Coach Norris says all the credit goes to his players for making this opportunity happen.
Kickoff between the Royals and Panthers will be at 7:00 PM on Friday night in Marcus.
