It has been a not-so-sweet 16 for Lewis County.

If a candle had been lit for every year that the Lions football team did not make the playoffs, this year’s squad blew all of them out with a win over West Carter two weeks ago.

The wish? It came true. Lewis County is finally back in the postseason.

The Lions (4-6) are still riding the wave formed by a 14-6 win over the Comets, stacking onto it a 28-24 win at Magoffin County last week.

“I was worried about (the Magoffin County matchup),” said Lewis County coach Josh Hughes. “It would have been easy for (our team) to lay down after the West Carter win. This team hasn’t had to handle success much.”

Lewis County had just four total wins in the last three seasons combined before 2009, and battled through back-to-back one-win seasons in the first two years of Hughes’ tenure, but the coach sensed a different attitude coming into this season.

“They came in ready to work,” Hughes said. “The kids were excited about the year. They expected to win.”

That approach contrasts drastically with what Hughes witnessed in the recent past.

“Before this year, if we had a game against a team that we usually don’t beat, our team would be beat mentally before we even played,” Hughes said. “They would be content with playing a good quarter.”

A three-pack of Lions, among others, have helped to restore pride and recognition into Lewis County football with selflessness and hard work.

Caleb Enix, the team’s leading rusher with 480 yards, lent a helping hand to the offensive line at the beginning of the season. Cole Cooper stepped in at quarterback after three years of playing wide receiver. Blake Kilgore has opened up the running game because of his ability to draw two defenders as a wideout.

There was a void at the quarterback position, but Hughes said Cooper was eager to take the reins.

“It kind of happened by accident,” Hughes remembered. “We didn’t have a quarterback, but from the moment spring football started, we figured he was the guy. He played in passing leagues and never missed. He quarterbacked the scout team. He put in so much extra work to make sure that he could do it.”

Cooper has passed for more than 900 yards and has thrown nine touchdowns, while rushing for more than 400 yards, but he also provides punch on the defensive side of the ball. He and Kilgore have accounted for eight interceptions as defensive backs.

Enix, since playing offensive guard in the team’s first game, has gone back to his comfort zone — the backfield.

“He was too athletic to leave on the line,” Hughes said.

The last time Lewis County went to the playoffs was 1993, and the Lions were blown out by Prestonsburg, 54-8.

Hughes hopes he can avoid a big loss like that at Belfry (7-3), but he knows the task is extremely tough.

“They’re a team that can line up and run the ball,” Hughes said of the Pirates, who have piled up more than 2,500 yards on the ground. “They’re like a machine. If someone gets hurt or something, they just put another cog in the wheel.

“We have had success the last half of the season controlling the clock,” he added. “We have to play defense with our offense. Our kids understand the type of team they’re playing, but they’re not afraid to play.”

Belfry had two early-season losses, to Ashland and Prestonsburg, but rolled off six straight before losing to Johnson Central to end the regular season.

Sheldon Clark at Russell

Russell’s last 16 years have been pretty sweet. It’s a span in which the Red Devils produced 15 playoff appearances and a state championship.

It’s also a stint that has not matched up Russell and Sheldon Clark. The last time these two teams met was in the first round of the postseason in 1993. Russell won 20-0.

Russell leads the series 5-0, including four straight wins by at least 12 points from 1981-84.

However, both teams look fairly even going into Friday night’s matchup at Russell. Both are 6-4, with Russell coming off an open week after a 27-15 loss to Raceland.

The Red Devils struggled to stop the pass the last few weeks of the season, including an allowance of 328 yards to Rams quarterback Tyler Farley.

“That’s the number one (key),” said Russell coach Ivan McGlone. “We have to play a little better defense than we have the last couple of weeks.”

Sheldon Clark has run for 1,500-plus yards this season, while Russell has surpassed 2,500, led by the effort of Travis Jones.

McGlone expects to see a vast array of looks from the Cardinals offense, including wishbone and spread approaches.

Russell will host a first-round playoff game for the seventh time in eight years.

AARON SNYDER can be reached at asnyder@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2664.