Notre Dame Gets Rematch With Alcoa in State Playoff Semifinals
Chattanooga-(WDEF) Notre Dame looks to punch their ticket to the state championship game tonight, but they’ll have to beat one of the premiere programs in the state in Alcoa. It’s the same playoff mission the Irish were unable to complete last season against the Tornadoes.
After falling to Alcoa 28-19 in the state playoff semi-finals last year, Notre Dame coach Charles Fant could not envision a rematch in the state semis this year.
"The fact that here we are again with another shot. What’s fun about it is the kids now understand who those guys are. They’re not going to be that whole intimidation of never ever seeing a team like that. That’s really difficult."
Said lineman Thomas Kulik-"It definitely hurt. We talked about it all summer. Just nine points away from going to state."
Added running back Andrew Banks-"The hype for Alcoa. I just feel like we can beat them."
The Irish can’t beat themselves like last season against Alcoa.
Said Fant-"We had five turnovers, and they scored 28 points off of the turnovers."
More than anything, Fant wants his guys to play for the glory of God.
"We always talk to our kids. I don’t care about us winning or losing. All I care about is you’re going to become a great man when you leave us. That’s really all we care about. You work hard to be a better man. A better player. A better athlete. A better brother. And all those things. The by-product is winning and being very successful."
If the Irish do win tonight, they’ll go to the state title game for the first time in school history. And Notre Dame was founded in 1876.
Said Fant-"Next year is the 140th year of Notre Dame High School, and we’ve been playing football over 130-plus years during that time. To think that no team out of that many years has ever made it to that point. So it would no doubt be a game-changer for our program."
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