Pioneer had come a long way to give itself an opportunity to win against Holt and make the playoffs in the season's final game at Hollway Field.

Clawing back from a 2-3 start, the Pioneers had won three straight games, but the Rams, who also needed a win to make the playoffs, were too much to overcome, as Pioneer fell 38-14.

Pioneer (5-4) now has to wait and cross its fingers until Sunday, when the numbers are crunched and it is revealed which 5-4 teams will have playoff dates next weekend, and which will stay home.

Holt (6-3) was a tough assignment to draw with playoff chances on the line. The three opponents that the Rams lost to this year have themselves combined to lose just twice.

Pioneer was unable to contain the Holt ground attack, as the Rams rushed for 313 yards, led by Curtis Nick, who ran for 171 yards on 21 carries.

"I looked across the field and I wasn't sure if that was the University of Michigan, or Holt," Pioneer coach Jeremy Gold said after the game, allowing himself to grin through the disappointment. "They were running the ball pretty good."