At this time five years ago, the Jefferson County Patriots were 0-10 in the midst of a 17-game losing streak in Spencer Riley’s fourth year at his alma mater.

In the following season, the Patriots snapped their streak at 18 games en route to a 6-5 season that resulted in their first playoff berth since Riley’s first season. Jeff County lost its first round matchup at Bradley Central, but it kick started a stretch of five straight playoff appearences, which included a Region 1-6A title in 2023.

Things have now come full circle, and the Patriots are hosting their third playoff game in three years against Bradley Central.

“It all started five years ago with our culture, and the change of path of our culture and what we’ve implemented, and the standards that we started with,” Riley said. “N

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