Torres Tackles: Making the playoffs at all cost

“Get in where you fit in.”

That’s the anthem playing in Lockhart after their 35-17 loss against San Marcos clinched a playoff berth.

Confused?

Let me explain.

Before Friday night’s game, District 27-5A clarified rules that determine who would get into the playoffs assuming a three-way tie. Headed into the game, Lockhart (5-2) would take on San Marcos (4-3) while Alamo Heights (5-2) played against eventual district champions and state-ranked Tivy (7-0).

If Tivy were to beat Alamo Heights and San Marcos beats Lockhart, then there would be a logjam at third, fourth and fifth in district with Boerne-Champion taking the second seed.

Therefore, in a recently approved tiebreaker, according to Austin American-Statesman’ Danny Davis, the district’s three-way tie would be broken through a points system. After a points champion is determined, the remaining two teams will be seeded via head-to-head.

Lockhart beat Alamo Heights 44-36 while Alamo Heights took down San Marcos 63-53, giving Lockhart a +8 differential, Alamo Heights a +2 differential and San Marcos a -10 differential.

An Alamo Heights win over Tivy would have made the Lockhart-San Marcos game a win-and-you’re-in situation, but a 71-57 loss dropped them to 5-3 in district.

Therefore, San Marcos needed to not only win, but win by at least seven points to advance to the playoffs.

Down 17-13, with 6:18 left in the game, the San Marcos Rattlers would score quickly and get a two-point conversion to go up 21-17. Then a Lockhart lost fumble gave San Marcos the ball on their own 19-yard line. The Rattlers scored again to go up 28-17 with 2:24 left in the game.

Had the game ended there, all three teams would move to 5-3, with Alamo Heights the points winner and third seed with their +2 differential because San Marcos would only have a +1 point differential and Lockhart a -3.

Then the tiebreaker moves to head-to-head where San Marcos goes over Lockhart after beating them Friday night.

So with the ball on their own 33-yard line and 2:24 left to play, the Lions opted to kneel the ball twice then literally hand the ball off to San Marcos so they can score and go up 35-17.

That final score pushed San Marcos to the third seed as the points champion amongst the three teams due to their +8 point differential. With Lockhart’s earlier win over Alamo Heights, this would make the Lions the fourth seed, eliminating Alamo Heights from the playoffs.

Like I said, get in where you fit in.

There’s already been some outrage and, before press time, I’d imagine this would make the district meeting a bit awkward among the coaches.

But if it’s in the rules, I don’t see an issue in using it to your advantage. After all, it’s the playoffs.

If there was a shot that my team can make the playoffs, I’d take it in a heartbeat, even if a lot of people would consider it not having integrity.

As much as they try teaching you about being a part of a team, leadership or whatever cliché you can come up with, the main thing is winning. And if that means having to lose by a specific amount to get to the playoffs, then by all means go for it.

Get in where you fit in.