The slate is clean for Tamaqua football.

After a challenging regular season that saw the Raiders finish 3-7, they’ll get a fresh start Thursday night when they travel to face Saucon Valley in the first round of the District 11 Class 3A playoffs.

For head coach Sam Bonner, the opportunity to compete in the postseason represents a stark contrast from a year ago.

The Raiders enter the playoffs having lost their last four games, most recently a 34-20 defeat to Blue Mountain.

But Bonner believes his team showed signs of progress in that contest, and is ready for the challenge ahead. The Raiders played a handful of very tight games this year.

“I thought we played one of our better games, even though we lost against Blue Mountain last week,” Bonner said. “Hopefully, we can build off of that.”

Thursday’s game is a clash of offensive philosophies.

Tamaqua has leaned heavily on its ground game this season, rushing for 1,949 yards compared to just 621 passing yards. Saucon Valley (5-5), meanwhile, takes to the air with frequency and success.

“They’ll throw the ball 75% of the time,” Bonner said of the Panthers. “They’re young, athletic, and they do spread it around.”

Leading Saucon Valley’s aerial attack is freshman wide receiver Thomas Cahill, who has been a revelation with eight touchdowns and is averaging 92 receiving yards per game.

“They have a freshman receiver who I think has 1,300 or 1,400 reception yards,” Bonner said.

The Panthers’ junior quarterback Braden Rohn serves as a dual threat, leading the team in both passing and rushing.

“It definitely creates a challenge for the secondary,” Bonner said. “Unfortunately, we’ve given up some big plays in the past, but we’ve got to make sure that we don’t give those big plays up this week.”

For Tamaqua to advance, Bonner knows his defense must disrupt Saucon Valley’s passing game at its source.

“First, we’ve got to get a pass rush,” Bonner said. “I would say one of the best traits of a pass defense is getting a good pass rush, and we have to make some plays in the secondary.”

The Raiders will also hope that weather conditions favor their run-heavy approach. Rain is possible, which could make passing more difficult.

When Tamaqua has the ball, the game plan is clear: hand it off to Terrence McDowell.

The sophomore running back has been a workhorse all season, carrying the ball 253 times for 1,398 yards and 16 touchdowns. He’s rushed for over 100 yards in eight of Tamaqua’s 10 games this year.

McDowell’s impact extends beyond the run game, as he also returns punts and kicks while playing cornerback in the secondary.

“Last week he didn’t come off the field,” Bonner said. “He’s our punt returner. Our kick returner. He plays the corner in the secondary, and he’s running the ball probably between 20 and 30 times a game.”

Malachi Stewart provides a secondary rushing option with 302 yards and five touchdowns on 73 carries.

“It’s a great experience, especially for younger guys going forward to get a chance to play in a district football game,” Bonner said. “These kids really enjoy being around one another.”

For Tamaqua, the formula is simple: control the clock with McDowell, pressure the quarterback, and limit big plays in the passing game. If conditions turn messy, all the better.

“It might be a little messy,” Bonner said. “Hopefully it’s in our favor — we have some mudders,” he laughed.