HEADED NORTH — The Edison football team is the playoffs for a fourth-straight year as they head to Girard on Friday night in the Division V, Region 17 playoffs. - Andrew Grimm

GIRARD — The Edison football team is looking to turn its regular season success into postseason success.

The Wildcats have been in the playoffs five times, and yet, the Silver-and-Black are still looking for their first playoff win in school history.

Edison wrapped up a spot in the playoffs two weeks ago, however, the Wildcats ended the regular season with a big test before the playoffs got underway.

Edison led rival Indian Creek, 13-12, late in the fourth quarter, however, the Redskins marched 73 yards for the game-winning touchdown as the Red-and-Gold defeated the Wildcats, 20-13, last Friday night inside Kettlewell Stadium.

“I told them I was proud of them for how hard they played,” Edison (7-3) head coach Mike Collopy said. “I feel like I let them down. There are things you do as a coach that make an impact. I told the kids I let them down. I told them I was proud of them. I told them I know they hurt. I wish I could have done a better job for them.”

While the loss was a painful one, the Wildcats did not have time to feel sorry for themselves as the playoffs were right around the corner.

“We told them over the weekend when you work hard for something and the outcome does not go in your favor, you should feel the way you feel,” Collopy said. “The regular season is over. Now, it is time for the postseason. The playoffs are here. That’s motivation enough for us.”

Edison has made strides throughout the season, and the team is looking to put its best foot forward this week in the playoff opener.

“We told them over the weekend that there are a lot of good things you can say about us a coaches, and there are a lot of bad things you can say,” Collopy said. “We are straight shooters. This team has improved more than any other team I have been a part of as a player or as a coach. I am proud of them. They are hard workers.

“Nothing worth having in life is ever easy. You have to continue to get better. We have gotten better, and we are going to have to continue to get better. Our kids are outstanding.”

The loss to the Redskins ultimately cost the Wildcats a home game meaning Edison – the No. 9 seed – has to go on the road to take on No. 8 see Girard at 7 p.m. Friday night up at Arrowhead Stadium in the first round of the Ohio Division V, Region 17 playoffs.

“Absolutely,” Collopy said about the Indians being a good team. “You’re in the playoffs. You are going to play good teams. We are going to come up with a good gameplan, and we are confident we will play our best game Friday night.”

The Indians are 6-4 on the season.

Girard has defeated Jefferson Area (3-7), 56-25, Liberty (5-5), 41-7, Pymatuning Valley (9-1), 21-13, Lakeview (5-5), 13-6, Hubbard (5-5), 45-6, and Niles McKinley (1-9), 42-8, in Week 10.

“Offensively, they run a spread,” Collopy said. “They mix it up. They like to throw. They have good receivers on the outside.”

Girard has lost to West Branch (10-0), 48-7, Struthers (8-2), 28-21, South Range (10-0), 55-27 and Poland Seminary (8-2), 24-6.

“Defensively, they are aggressive,” Collopy said. “They are good tacklers. They mix up their fronts. They like to bring pressure.”

Girard is also solid when it comes to special teams.

“They are good in every aspect of the game,” Collopy said. “They have a lot of seniors.”

The boys from Jefferson County are treating the trip up to Trumbull County like a normal road trip.

“They’re right outside of Youngstown,” Collopy said. “We are going to treat it as normal. It is what it is. You play the game you are scheduled to play. You do what you do.”

Last season, Edison lost in the first round of the playoffs to Ridgewood, 33-8, on the road.

Also last season, Girard was defeated in the first round of the Division IV, Region 13 playoffs by Struthers, 21-16, on the road.

Edison knows what it has to do in order to be successful Friday night and bring the Wildcats their first postseason victory.

“We have to be sound in all three phases of the game,” Collopy said.