Braves Football Playoff Preview

Nassau Conference I Playoffs - Syosset @ East Meadow, 3 p.m.

The Syosset Braves football team are hoping history repeats itself when they take on the East Meadow Jets Saturday at 3 p.m. in the first round of the Nassau County Conference I playoffs.

It was only a week ago when over East Meadow. Now, Syosset finds themselves playing the same team in the same place. The stakes are just as high - while last week was a game to make the playoffs, today is a game to stay in them.

Syosset finished the year 4-4, good enough to earn the fifth seed. East Meadow, seeded fourth in the playoffs, played to a 5-3 record this season.

Special teams is always the great equalizer in playoff football and Syosset will need that unit to play better today. Last week, the Braves allowed an 80-yard kickoff return by Jets return man Robbie Healy. If only for an edge in the field position battle, Syosset's special teams will be called upon to calm the East Meadow return game.

Ball security will also be a key to victory. The Braves have been bitten by the turnover bug in recent weeks. Two weeks ago against Farmingdale, . Last week, two fumbles gave East Meadow a chance to win the game on their final drive. That same scenario may not produce the same result.

Playoff football requires playoff precision. Some of the mistakes made last week may not be as kind to the Braves. It's difficult to beat a team twice in consecutive weeks, especially when both those games are on the road.

While the Braves may not wish for a similar performance to last week, they'll certainly take a similar result.