BRIDGEPORT - The Bridgeport football team will compete in the Nebraska School Activities Association playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since qualifying for the postseason in three-straight years from 2001-2003.

The Bulldogs (6-2) are seeking their second-ever postseason win when they host Alma (5-3) in an No. 8 vs. No. 9 matchup in the Class D1 west bracket at 2 p.m. MDT on Thursday at Bridgeport High School. The game will be broadcast live on 987 The Big Boy (98.7 FM, thebigboy987.com, the free News Channel Nebraska app, or tell Alexa to "play 987 The Big Boy). 

This is the 15th trip to the NSAA postseason for Bridgeport. Last season, they fell to Summerland in the Round of 32, 28-14. In 2020, while still in 11-man, the Bulldogs lost to Hartington Cedar Catholic at home, 21-0. Overall, the Bulldogs are 1-14 in the playoffs. Their lone win came in 1999 with a 17-14 victory over Chadron.

The Bulldogs are coming off a bye week this week. Their last win came on Oct. 6 when they defeated Morrill, 90-20. Bridgeport racked up 325 yards on the ground, including 130 yards from Peyton Abbott and 105 yards from Hayes Watts. The pair of rushers scored a combined six total touchdowns. 

The defense created four turnovers while holding the Lions to 216 yards of total offense, all on the ground. 

Alma returns to the postseason for the third-straight year. The Cardinals were edged by Nebraska Christian in the Round of 32 last fall, 38-36. It's also the 15th trip to the football playoffs for Alma High School.  They have a 6-14 postseason record and finished runner-up in Class C2 in 1976.

The Cardinals snapped a three-game losing streak with a 46-0 victory over Southern Valley (2-6) on Friday. Before the win this week, the Cardinals were winless in district play after starting the season 4-0. 

Thursday's game will be the first meeting between the Bulldogs and Cardinals on the football field. The winner between Bridgeport and Alma will advance to the Round of 16. The remaining 16 teams will be reseeded on a statewide bracket.