MANDATA - Line Mountain suffered losses in four of its first five games.
It was a 1-4 hole the Eagles could ill afford to fall into.
Ever since, head coach Rodney Knock has delivered the same message to his team on a weekly basis.
Take care of business on their end. ... And let the chips fall where they may.
It's about all the Eagles, in their quest for a District 4 Class A playoff berth, can do.
It's been working - Line Mountain has won three straight to pull even at 4-4 - but with two games remaining, the Eagles still find themselves mired in fifth in the D-4 standings. Right now, they're outside, looking in at what will be a four-team playoff bracket.
"We can only control what we do," Knock said earlier this week as the Eagles prepared for a pretty good Williams Valley (5-3) team. "Win, and whatever happens, happens. We can't control what other teams do."
The Vikings will present a stiff challenge.
Senior running back Matt Miller, Knock says, is likely the best back Line Mountain will see all season. And he's only one part of a multi-dimensional Williams Valley offense that, while small up front, challenges defenses with a talented group of skill position players.
"Obviously, they're having a strong season again this year," Knock said. "They're young, and don't have a lot of size, but they're quick, they play assignment football and they do it well.
"32 (Matt Miller) is probably the best back we'll see all year. He has speed, and he runs hard. Their skill guys ... (Cody) Miller makes acrobatic catches, and they fly around on defense."
The diverse offense starts with junior quarterback Nick Rodichok (6-foot-1, 163), who has found success whether handing the ball off to one Miller, or passing to the other.
Matt Miller (5-10, 175) averages more than 130 yards per game on the ground, with 1,112 yards and 10 touchdowns on 150 carries. Rodichok has hit on 66 of 137 passes, been picked off nine times, but has accumulated 1,081 passing yards to go along with 10 TD passes. Cody Miller has been on the receiving end of 26 of those aerials, good for 442 yards and four scores.
It's a lot for a defense, even a very good defense, to contend with.
"Obviously, they're a very good team," Knock said.
Line Mountain, Knock said, has become a more basic team, particularly on the offensive side, during its current three-game winning streak. Sophomore halfback Kenny Boyer has surpassed 100 rushing yards in each of those games. Senior quarterback Ryan Reed has joined him once.
"We've just been taking advantage of our strengths offensively," Knock said. "We have some big bodies up front, and we've been getting some favorable looks.
"And we've just been getting the ball to Kenny (Boyer) more. Kenny has great vision, and he's a very tough back for how small he is."