By Kyle Roberts
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but Ruston High is playing Zachary in the playoffs.
For the third straight year, the Bearcats and the Broncos will be hitting the gridiron tomorrow night for what could be an atmosphere to remember at James Field at Hoss Garrett Stadium, even if it’s “only the second round.”
In the two previous postseasons, this matchup either punched a ticket for Ruston’s trip to the ‘Dome in 2022 or secured the first title in over three decades for the “Firmly Founded” in 2023. This year, it’s No. 3 versus No. 14.
But let me (and others) assure you — Zachary is no regular 14-seed. They’ve recently won multiple titles. They know how to play in hostile environments. They can score fast (just ask No. 19 Sam Houston from last week). This will be a far cry from a “normal” second round game.
Count on it: the Broncos will be hungry not to lose three playoff games in a row to the same team.
So let’s do a quick primer on how you, the Bearcat fan, can be one of the most crucial pieces to a possible Ruston victory — one that is by no means guaranteed — by following these easy steps.
Step One: Get loud and proud when Zachary has the football. Our home stands have been filled to the brim in the last few seasons. The Cat Box is absolutely stuffed every Friday in the fall. Let the Cow Bells echo through the Piney Hills of North Louisiana when the Broncos are lining up to snap the football. Be noisy, loud, and borderline obnoxious when the opponent is trying to execute.
And on third and fourth down? Let it go to eleven. You thought you were loud on first down? Nope. Take it to the extreme. Be “that guy” that stands up and yells when others are sitting. And if we have enough “that guys,” we’ll force some miscues that could lead to false starts or worse for the opposing offense.
Step Two: Get uncomfortably quiet when Ruston has the football. Look, I love the cowbell more than Christopher Walken Bruce Dickinson loves making gold records. But when our quarterback breaks the huddle for the line, we need to be eerily quiet. Not pin-drop quiet, mind you, but you know — that buzz that won’t interfere with our chief signal-caller getting the message to his troops.
When done right, it’s electric. It creates anticipation, which leads to my favorite….
Step Three: Get ready for the “Crowd Crescendo” on big plays. When that buzz hits the right note and something amazing happens, it turns the crowd into the jolt of energy the players may very well need. You’ll be free to get loud again and celebrate. Listen to this clip from the :38 mark — it’s sheer perfection from a crowd reaction. The players feed off engaged fans, and when facing a tough opponent, it can be one factor of many that can turn the tide. But it only works when everyone is all in together.
With those things in mind, Ruston High fans can create a needed “Hoss”-field advantage tomorrow night. Everyone can have a great time while giving the kids the push they’ll need in a real playoff fight.
And before we go, don’t let me forget the final (and most important)…
Step Four: Show your appreciation to these kids for their hard work. It’s not easy winning a title. And it can’t be easy defending one. Remember who you’re doing this for: these young men, staff, cheerleaders, pep squad, band, admin — it takes a ton of effort and energy just to put a football game together in 2024. They’ve worked for months (years, even) to get to this postseason, and they have a huge opponent early in the bracket they’ll need to get past.
When you cheer, you’re thanking them for all they’ve done to get to this point in the season. This program is worthy of gratitude from all of us. Let’s give them our very best this postseason.
