Polk County scored nearly three times as many points as Thomasville had averaged yielding in each of its previous seven games, but the Bulldogs edged the Wolverines, 20-14, in the first round of state 2A football playoffs on Friday, Nov. 13.

Growth was the key word for the Wolverines, many of whom will be back for at least another year.

The Wolverines struck first, crossing into the Bulldogs’ end zone with about two minutes left in the first quarter. The kick was good, and Polk led, 7-0, in the matchup between 2A teams in the state’s West Region.

With just under one minute to go in the first quarter, Thomasville scored six points, but could add no more, leaving the Wolverines ahead, 7-6.

On a roll, Polk added another touchdown, with only about two minutes gone in the second quarter, made the extra point, and led the Bulldogs, 14-6.

However, Thomasville was able to score twice more, with a TD (and two-point conversion) late in the third quarter, and another touchdown with just four minutes left in the game. Unable to add to that, the Bulldogs led, 20-14 — the game’s final.

Polk’s season ended with a 5-7 record, not a true indicator of the strides the Wolverines have made. It might be a more fair measure of the team’s relative inexperience, injuries, some questionable decisions by officials, and a few plays that could have gone the other way.

Mountain Heritage, one of Polk’s traditional Western Highlands Conference rivals, takes on Thomasville, at Thomasville, this Friday, Nov. 20. The Cougars trounced Providence Grove, 42-7, on Nov. 20.