It's that time. It's serious playoff time. We've just concluded golf, tennis and cross country. What great competition. We've had upsets, races won in the last 5 meters, playoffs for championships, tie-breakers. Depending what side of the outcome you fall upon, it is time to lose the pretenders and highlight the contenders. After this weekend, we're halfway there in the playoff march to a fall PIAA championship in the sports of volleyball, soccer and field hockey. So hold on. It's what we got.

Looking back at the fall, it seems like just yesterday when it was August hot and we were starting fall practice with 2 a days and whatever other schedule our coaches devised for us. But here we are in November and for three sports we're just 10 days from the end of the season; the end of the career, the end of the journey.    It is great to say, that we got each other and that's a lot, so we keep on going to give it a shot.

Because it is love. We love playing. It's the participation. The tingling of a great play, the completion of a well devised plan. It's why we practice, why we work to achieve our goals. It's the love. The love to give it a shot.

Not to mention the number of prayers that have been said in the stands by moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas. Never mind, those by classmates, teammates, coaches and administrators. It's almost that we're living on a prayer.

Oh yeah, you got me. Bon Jovi lives!

Dial it up at www.youtube.com. Livin on a Prayer.

You can pick your favorite Bon Jovi video; there's enough of them....

So to all you contenders, here’s some lyrics for your pre-game promise and your post-game celebration....

Interscholastic athletics; Where living on a prayer is part of the game.