By Coach Bossio

October means crisp air, bon fires, cider mills, Halloween, and in the football world - playoffs. This past weekend was no exception. Three of the Livonia Eagle football squads had their playoff games on Sunday and since there is no playoff in the Flag division, the Eagle’s Flag team played a consolation game. 

As football coaches we are constantly looking for words of motivation or inspiration to give our players. One such catch phrase is “Hard work pays off!”  This was never more evident than with the Livonia Eagle Flag football team this past Sunday. The Eagle’s came into Sunday’s contest against the Garden City Cougars having yet to win a game this season. However, as we coach say, “Hard work pays off!” The Eagles worked hard, prepared well and came away with a 41-32 victory over the Cougars. Another phrase some coaches like is “Victory is sweet but, I’m still hungry.” The WLJFL better watch out! The Eagles will be a much improved team next season and they will be hungry for victory.

The JV Eagles started the season unable to get a win through the first few games. But they worked their collective butts off and won. They practiced hard, they reviewed film of their games, they corrected their mistakes and they played well enough to earn themselves a spot in the playoffs in the last game of the regular season. This past Sunday the JV Eagles were at Bentley field for their playoff game against the Livonia Falcons. The Eagles gave the Falcons all they could handle and then some. The Falcons eventually won the day with a 14-7 victory but, the Eagles played with pride, toughness and grit. JV ends their season with the loss and now must look forward to next season and for some, their first taste of varsity football. 

The Eagle’s varsity team fought the injury bug all season. Several players came up injured throughout the year but the team played through it. Football players are not the type of people to make excuses. They strap on their helmets, ties their shoes up tight and go to war every week against another group of like-minded individuals. They battle, injuries, officials, other teams and sometimes the weather. The Varsity squad took to the field last Sunday for their playoff match-up against the number one seeded Livonia Falcons. The Eagles played their best first half of football all season and at half time the score was 3-0 Falcons. The second half was a picture of the Eagles’ season as injuries began to creep in once again. The Eagles fought hard but lost 25-0. The final game of any season is an emotional time for the players, parents and coaches. It is a different feeling however, when you are part of the varsity squad. For 14 Eagles, Sunday was their final game as a player. We as coaches spend their entire Eagle career teaching the kids that they are part of the Eagle “Family”. We teach them that we are all brothers-in-arms and that we win, lose succeed or fail together as one unit. Whenever any of our teams reach the season’s end we talk and commiserate or congratulate our kids on the season they had. At the varsity level, we do both. We are saddened by the fact we lost our last game this year but we are thrilled to have been a part of the kids’ lives and the privilege to teach them the game of football. We coach because we love teaching and we love teaching because we love the kids. Good luck to all the 8th grade varsity players as they embark on their high school lives. We thank you for being Eagles and remember, you are our brothers and an Eagle for life. 

Hopefully you don’t mind that I saved the best for last. The Livonia Eagle Freshman team played their first round playoff game against the fourth seeded Garden City Cougars. The Eagles soared to victory against Garden City. The Eagles promptly went out and nearly took the opening kickoff back for a touchdown, and they never looked back. The Eagles cruised to a 37-0 victory over the Cougars. That shutout marked the fourth time this year the freshman held their opponent without a point. With the victory, the Eagles have advanced to the South Division Championship next Sunday against the Livonia Falcons. 

As is always the case, week in and week out the Eagles Cheerleading teams were on hand to cheer the players on. Like the varsity boys, the varsity girls led their final cheer as Eagles on Sunday. I know I have mentioned the cheerleaders every week during the recap but, they really do deserve the mention. The girls work as hard during the summer and brave the elements just like the boys. Granted the girls don’t have to worry about the physical contact of football, but jumping, building human pyramids and cheering until they have gone hoarse in the voice all make up the fortitude of an Eagle cheerleader. The girls will forever be Eagles in our hearts as well. Congratulations on a great season ladies and we thank you for your support all year long. The cheerleaders are in the final week of preparation for Cheerfest 2017 which takes place this Saturday at Walled Lake Western. Please come out and support the girls as they battle all eleven other cheer teams in the WLJFL.