District playoffs started Monday evening at Battle Creek Central, and it seemed for the first half that someone had forgotten to tell the Bulldogs. The Bearcats had a rough regular season, and the Bulldogs were favored by most coming into the match. As most people will tell you, none of that matters come playoff time! In a win-or-go-home scenario, teams seem to dig deeper and find a way to play at their best. Central certainly did that on their home field, and were pressing the Dawgs throughout much of the first half. Dentler had to make a few close range saves that kept the Bearcats off the scoreboard. Otsego never managed to trouble Central's goalkeeper, even though they had a number of good chances going forward in the half. 

The halftime talk was a simple one. Our play was not crisp enough, our ideas were not clear enough, and Keegan did not want his high school career to end on a bumpy mud patch in Battle Creek. The Dawgs were not sharp through the first 8-10 minutes of the second half, and needed a change to light a fire in them. Junior midfielder Josh Loll moving up top was to be that spark. With the help of Jared Swope and Jakson Dentler's relentless movement and high press, the Central back line was tiring. Josh and company took advantage in the 67th minute when Loll smashed home a free ball in the box for his 13th tally of the season, and easily the most important of his high school career. The momentum had shifted, and you could see it in the body language of the players on both sides. Just over a minute after Josh had put his team in the lead, an unlikely goal scorer would double the lead and effectively close the door on the Bearcats. Ian McClellan is known more for his defensive work, and providing great service into the box. This time, however, Ian found himself on the other end of some great service. Keegan Timmerman danced, cut, and wound his way deep into the box on the right flank. Pouring numbers forward, Keegan clipped a ball over the pack of players and to the back side of the 6 yard box knowing that was the best chance of finding a free runner. That was exactly what he had found in the form of left back Ian McClellan with an aggressive run toward the back post. Ian did not yet have a goal on the year, but he made no mistake in notching his first. He hammered home a right footed full volley from 7 yards out, and the fans and his teammates were left speechless. Otsego held strong the final 10 or so minutes, and advance to a District Semifinal where they will get another shot at Plainwell.

Jayden Dentler had 7 saves in net to record his 8th full shutout of the year. He had another half shutout at Parchment earlier in the season. This performance earned him defensive man of the match honors. Josh Loll took home offensive man of the match for his game winning goal.