The Wildcats fell in the Sectional playoff game to the Olathe West High School Owls 24-7 on Friday, Nov. 9.

Both teams scored a single touchdown during the first half of the game, but OWHS scored two more in second and fourth quarters, adding a field goal in the third quarter.

“We didn’t play as good as we are capable of playing. Sometimes that’s just the way it works out,” assistant coach Lynn Hoffman said.

The team faced many hardships including the harsh weather with temperatures falling into the lower teens.

According to senior tight end Connor Flynn, the cold weather made “every single bump and bruise hurt 10 times more.”

Though the team played well, the weather was a large impact at the start of the game.

The team had difficulty “getting in the groove of the game,” according to Hoffman.

In addition to the players being impacted by the weather, the whole atmosphere of the game was different due to low fan attendance and team spirit.

“There were a couple of times during the game where I stopped and listened, and our side of the field was silent. The weather took a toll on everybody in terms of energy,” Flynn recalled.

This loss finished the season for the Wildcats. Despite losing 26 seniors last season, they accumulated an overall record of 8-3 and a conference record of 4-1, finishing second in the conference on a tiebreaker.

“I think we surprised a lot of people with the outcome of our season,” Flynn said.

The team claimed the titles of Regional champions and Sectional runner-up and looks forward to next year.

“I am really hungry as far as wanting to get better, and I know all the players are too. This [loss] leaves a bad taste in my mouth and will help us in the future … to really prepare,” Hoffman said. “We always want to be playing when it’s cold. We expect to go far every year.”