Not to say I don't enjoy the entire season, but there are two times of the year that are better than others when it comes to high school football. The opening weekend is special because of the anticipation surrounding the months to come. Then there's playoff time, where one loss is one too many.

Last Friday, eight Delaware County teams began their postseason runs, with five surviving to the next round. At the Class AAAA level, Ridley and Glen Mills moved on and will face each other in the quarterfinal round of the District One Tournament Friday night. As for Class AAA, Garnet Valley rolled over Strath Haven and will get a rematch with rival Unionville Friday night. In the Catholic League, Cardinal O'Hara (Red Division) and Archbishop Carroll (Blue Division) moved on to the semifinals.

The beautiful part of the playoffs is the finality of it all. The intensity level is upped a few notches and decisions become more important. Why? Well, one mistake can force the packing away of helmets and shoulder pads. Obviously, that isn't a desired outcome. Meanwhile, the atmosphere of playoff football is better than anything else. Bigger crowds appear, causing the oohs and aahs to be amplified.

If you get a chance, trek out to a postseason game this weekend. Not only will you get the chance to see some high-quality football, the environment is enjoyable.