It is always hard to be on the other side of the fairy tale. North Ridgeville twice this season ended a game in disbelief.

First the Rangers lost to Bay on a blocked extra point. After righting their season and controlling their own destiny for a conference championship and playoff spot, the Rangers blew a 14-point lead and lost to Rocky River on a last-second kick by a back-up kicker attempting his first-ever field goal.

After that Week 9 loss, everything that the Rangers worked so hard for seemed lost.

“Everyone was devastated it was such a close loss,” senior tri-captain Alex Lovasz said. “During the following week we wanted to finish out with a win.”

There were two choices quit or kept fighting. At the half-time of the Midview game, an outsider observer may have believed the Rangers quit. They trailed 14-0.

Head coach Jeff Riesen knew otherwise.

“We had played well,” he said. “We fumbled on our own 10 and they converted it into a quick touchdown. And then at the end of the half Midview was just running out the clock and we let up. Josiah Holt is too good of back and he turned a simple run into a touchdown because we didn’t tackle him. So there were 16 seconds left and I told the kickoff return team that we weren’t going to yell and scream at the half and to keep their composure and passed on to the other kids.”

In the locker room, the coaches built the kids back up rather than tear them down.

“At the half, the coaches fired us up,” junior quarterback and tri-captain Michael Mees said. “We had to come together and that first kickoff started it off.”

On the opening kickoff senior tri-captain Steven Lopez forced a fumble and the comeback began.

“We were upset, but we still believed we could do it,” Lopez said. “We were trailing but we saw what Rocky River did to us. Why couldn’t we do it as well? It started right on the second half kick-off. I made that kid fumble and it changed the mood of the game.”

North Ridgeville would rally and win 18-14 producing their own fairy tale ending.

Some of the players heard the fourth quarter score updates and had known Bay and River were trailing. Others were too focused.

“I wasn’t paying attention to the scores at first,” Lopez said “We just wanted to win but in the fourth quarter they announced the scores and we got pumped when we heard them.”

“I wasn’t listening,” Lovasz said. “I was focusing on finishing Midiew. If we didn’t win then we had no chance. We had to get it done first.”

The scene on the field after the game is something that will never be forgotten in North Ridgeville. The Rangers had rallied to defeat their rivals then the scores started coming in.

“It was crazy,” Lovasz said. “Everyone was so excited. It fell into our hands. We heard Bay and River lost and we tied for conference and then we heard North Olmsted beat Olmsted Falls and we knew we were in the playoffs.”

A week after losing control of their playoff destiny, North Ridgeville had earned its first ever trip to the football playoffs.

“We were all so excited,” Mees said. “A lot of us didn’t want to leave the field.”

“It is why I still coach,” Riesen said. “The kids believed and the rest is history. It was a priceless moment.”

Riesen began his career at North Ridgeville right out of college. He spent 14 years there as a teacher, assistant coach and then head coach in the 1980s. After stops in Elyria, Avon Lake and Amherst, he retired. He returned to North Ridgeville in 2006 and has led the Rangers to a 27-13 record since.

“It is very rewarding,” Riesen said. “I came to North Ridgeville as a first-year teacher. I spent 14 years there. To be able to come back and be part of the first team to go to the playoffs, you couldn’t write it any better. For any coach to be able to look into the faces of smiling kids after a big win is special. This is the highlight of my career. And I am just a part of it. I am one of nine coaches and 60 players.”

The players had a sense that this year could be special.

“At first I thought it was just another season but as soon as we started practicing I knew it would be special,” Lopez said. “Every practice, every two-a-day we worked so hard and it was worth it.”

Lovasz said this season began last December.

“The coaches have done a great job,” he said. “Coach (Doug) Beach since last December has had us hitting the weights. He got us stronger, faster and more conditioned.”

Beach is former Lombardi Award winner. Riesen said his addition to the staff has been a huge plus.

“Doug played for me,” Riesen said. “He’s got youth on his side. You need a coach like that who can relate to the players. He has been a big part of our success like all of our coaches.”

After a fairy tale ending of their own, North Ridgeville is looking to continue this special season. The Rangers take on No. 1 seed St. Francis De Sales of Toledo Friday night at Whitmer High School in Toledo. No. 8 seeds aren’t supposed to beat top seeds but being the underdog suits North Ridgeville.

“When you are the favorite sometimes it gives you too much upstairs,” Lopez said. “I would rather be the underdog.”

“Our team doesn’t like to be big-headed,” Lovasz said. “We want to be the ‘who are they’ team and then give it all we got on the field. Every player is ready to do anything.”

“Practice has been more intense and everyone is focused,” Mees said. “We relish being the underdog. Every team can be beaten.”

Overcoming adversity has brought the team together. The Rangers truly believe they can go to Toledo and win.

“It really seems like we are getting closer as a team,” Lopez said. “This is the big time. We need to beat them. We should be a one or two seed. We lost two games by three points. We are the best No. 8 seed there could be. No one will see this coming.”

Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. and will be aired on AM 1320 WOBL.