BEULAH — The entire Beulah community celebrated its varsity football team this past weekend after the Bobcats defeated Dadeville 32-27 to clinch the team’s first playoff appearance since 2007.

“It feels pretty good,” Beulah head football coach Cody Flournoy said. “Everybody’s excited. We’re all happy and for me, it’s a little bit of relief because we started off so hot, and we had a couple of chances to seal the deal earlier and then we lost to Bullock and St. James. For me, it’s a little bit of relief, because I thought we had a good enough team, and the way that some of the things were falling out, I didn’t know if we could do it or not at the end there. I’m happy for those guys.”

Senior quarterback Lonzie Portis led all Bobcat rushers in the effort with a grand total of 155 yards on 19 attempts and three touchdowns. Junior Chris Person had 15 carries for 99 yards, and Caden Dowdell contributed 54 yards on the ground and a touchdown on the ground as well.

Through the air, Portis completed a 22-yard touchdown pass to senior Justin Hancock. Senior tight end KC Moore also had a big reception in the game as well, Flournoy said.

On the defensive side of the ball, Dowdell led the Bobcats by wrapping up 11 tackles in the win.

The win also clinched Beulah’s first winning season since 2007 and the school’s third playoff appearance in 23 years.

“Football in the south is big for everybody,” Flournoy said. “In this small-town community, they still love football, always have, but now they have a team to be proud of and cheer for and hold their head up because their hometown school is playing well. They’ve always supported us, but now we’re trying to give a little bit back to them and have a good season.”

Community members throughout Beulah have supported the team all season, according to Flournoy. Local churches have provided pre-game meals to the team, as well as pre-practice snacks such as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Beulah has shown good attendance throughout the season and even at the year’s preseason pep rally at Bobcat stadium.

“There’s a lot of little things that people are doing that shows that they care,” Flournoy said. “That just makes it fun and exciting.”

This is Flournoy’s second season at Beulah and now he has an opportunity to lead the current class of seniors to become one of the more winningest classes in the last 20 years. If the Bobcats win this week at home against Pike Road, then they get the chance to host a playoff game.