ATHENS, Texas — While queen candidates, floats, bands and other dignitaries highlight the pregame ceremonies at Bruce Field, a spot in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference post-season playoffs will be the bigger prize during the 3 p.m. Saturday season finale between Northeastern A&M College's Golden Norsemen battle the Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals.
Only one scenario exists where coach Ryan Held's NEO Golden Norsemen (2-3 and 4-4) could earn one of the four post-season playoff spots in the conference. If the Golden Norsemen win at Trinity Valley and both Kilgore and Blinn College (2-3 and 5-3) lose Saturday, NEO would finish third in the SWJCFC.
"There still a lot on the line for us besides just pride," Held said. "I still have a bad taste in my mouth from the loss they gave us last year (53-8). In all my coaching, it has been the hardest I've ever tried to get past.
"Their offense puts you in a lot of compromising positions because they'll have a lot of guys that are wide open on pass routes," Held said "So for us, everybody's got to do their job on defense and it starts up front and finishes with the back seven.
"They're going to get yards and score some points because they are a good team," Held said. "We've got to limit the big plays and make they drive the ball great distances."
Coach Brad Smiley's No. 14 ranked Cardinals are riding a six-game winning streak and have won 18 of their past 20 games. Last week the Cards demolished Arkansas Baptist College 63-17 in a non-conference game at Little Rock.
Entering the final game of the regular season the Cardinals are tied with No. 6 rated Tyler Junior College for the conference lead with a 4-1 record. Tyler is 7-1 on the season while Trinity Valley is 6-2 overall.
The Tyler Apaches travel 30 miles Saturday to conclude the regular season against archrival Kilgore College (2-3 and 4-4). With a victory, the Apaches would win the conference title outright because they defeated Trinity Valley 71-64 on Sept. 24 in Tyler.
By virtue of a prolific passing game, the Cardinals lead the nation both in total yards per game (687.4) and scoring (63 points per game).
"They get so many guys wide open, that it's not even earning a touchdown," Held said. "If we can make them earn every yard, get some turnovers and play well on third down on defense, then we can be in the game."
While averaging 35.8 points and 343.8 yards per game, the Golden Norse offense is under the direction of sophomore Mack Waldman. Through eight games, Waldman has completed 125 of 242 passes for 1,534 yards and 11 touchdowns with four interceptions. He has gained 9 yards on 41 carries with three TDs.
"Offensively, we've got to get first downs, control the clock and control the ball," Held said. "We've got to 'ugly the game up' because we're not going to be able to go out against Trinity Valley and get in a scoring contest with them.
"We've got to make this game an old fashioned blood bath," Held said. "The bottom line is, if we don't convert on third down situations (1 of 15 against Cisco last week), we're not going to win.
"If we stop them on third, convert on third and keep it moving, we'll have lots of chances for so plays."
One key to having success on offense will be the ability of sophomore running backs Jesse Gregory and Cameron Booty to move the sticks with consistent runs.
Gregory has rushed for 505 yards on 94 carries and two touchdowns while Booty has added 503 yards on 108 carries and 10 TDs.
"When we go back and do a statistical analysis of this season, there are going to be some glaring areas where we should have done better," Held said. "Third-down conversions will be one of those areas."
NEO's defense has been charged with containing the nation's leading junior       college passer in sophomore Jerod Evans. The Cardinals are generating 463.6 yards per game through the air. Evans has completed 179 of 287 passes for 3,164 yards with 38 touchdowns and only three interceptions.
Sophomore linebacker Chris Baccus leads the NEO defense with 45 unassisted tackles and 16 assists.
Veteran defensive tackle Garrett McBroom has recorded 10 quarterback sacks for a minus-41 yards and seven tackles behind the line for minus-14 yards. He has posted 32 solo tackles and 28 assists.
Sophomore defensive tackle Novis Collum leads NEO with eight tackles behind the line of scrimmage for minus-43 yards.
"At the end of the day, all we wanted once we got to this point in the season was a chance to make the playoffs," Held said. "When we get on that bus to go to Athens, we only have to be good for one game.
"Doesn't matter what we've done in the past," Held said. "Now this is a tremendous challenge, but they have lost two football games and it's not like they're undefeated."