Loveland's football players had the playoffs on their minds Friday night as the Tigers kept their postseason hopes alive with a 33-14 victory over host Kings Friday night.

        Loveland (6-3, 5-1 Fort Ancient Valley Conference) will close the regular season at home against Wilmington next Friday. A victory likely would put the Tigers in the postseason for the first time in more than 10 years.

        “Playoffs were on both teams' minds tonight. The winner has a good chance to make the postseason, while the loser is out,” Loveland coach Chuck Warden said. “If we win next week we should get it, but a lot of things can happen.”

        The loss eliminates Kings (5-4, 4-3) from playoff contention.

        Loveland built a 21-0 lead late in the third quarter before Kings rallied. The Knights cut the lead to 21-14 with a 13-yard touchdown run by Jimmy Robertson and a 41-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Brian Linch.

        Loveland held Robertson under 100 yards for the game. Robertson entered the night ranked fifth in the city with 1,292 yards this season.

        “The key tonight was to keep the ball out of Kings' hands,” Warden said. “Robertson is a very dangerous back and they are on a roll right now.”

        Loveland dealt the knockout blow with 5:39 left in the game when Phil Deis completed a pass to Brandon Gambill, who sprinted 44-yards down the sideline for the score.

        “Phil (Deis) hit me in the flat and I broke the initial tackle,” said Gambill. “Mike Mills threw a key block to allow me to score.”

        Gambill also scored a rushing touchdown in the first half and went over 100 yards rushing in the game.

        “We moved B.J. to running back about midway through the season. He alternates series with Adam Wirth,” said Warden. “"Each back has something different to offer. B.J. is quick, and Adam runs with power.”

        Loveland scored two touchdowns in a four-minute span in the second quarter for a 14-0 lead. The Tigers ran 14 plays and drove 54 yards consuming 6:17 off the clock on the first scoring drive, which was capped by Wirth's one-yard plunge into the end zone with 9:11 remaining in the half.

        Kings went three-and-out on its possession, and Loveland took over on its own 45-yard line. The Tigers ran nine plays, all on the ground, before Gambill scored on a three-yard run with 3:28 remaining in the half.

        Loveland ....... 0  14   0  19—33

        Kings ....... 0   0   7   7—14

        L-Wirth 1 run (Ball kick)

        L-Gambill 3 run (Ball kick)

        L-Deis 14 run (Ball kick)

        K-Robertson 13 run (Wilders kick)

        K-Linch 41 fumble recovery (Wilders kick)

        L-Gambill 44 pass from Deis (kick failed)

        K-Wirth 2 run (pass failed)

        Records L 6-3 (FAVC 5-1), K 5-4 (4-3).

Enquirer.com/prepfootball"

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