That is probably true, considering the Bulldogs' postseason futility had reached 17 years before they claimed a riveting 35-28 victory over the Eagles.
Burkburnett hadn't won a playoff game since 1990, when it knocked off Brownwood, Fort Worth Polytechnic and Big Spring en route to the Class 4A state quarterfinals.
"I'm real proud of these kids. They fought hard all year, and it was a heck of a football team we played tonight," Burkburnett coach Bill Dalke said afterward. "It's a good win against a good opponent."
Like most wins this season, the Bulldogs depended on a grinding power running game and a stifling defense to hand Canyon only its second loss of 2007.
The Bulldogs' secondary was instrumental in slowing down Canyon's attack. Even though Eagles quarterback Spencer Church threw for 287 yards, it took him 53 attempts to do so. Many of his completions occurred on quick swing passes, and Church was often under pressure when he rolled out of the pocket.
Church completed only three passes of 20 yards or more -- all coming in the first half -- and the longest of his 19 completions in the second half went for 16 yards.
"They just dinked us. They are good at throwing the deep ball, and we took that away," Dalke said. "We just tried to break on the other stuff."
Keaton Green made a huge fourth-down interception in the first half near the end zone, and twice batted down fourth-down passes in the second half, including the game-clincher with less than a minute remaining. Jay Gould and Jason Beach were also standouts in the secondary.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs' offense gained 399 yards against the Eagles, including 328 on the ground. Lyn Barnes rushed for 150 yards and three touchdowns, while Jonathan Frank notched 108 yards and a score.
In fact, the Bulldogs' offense was its own worst enemy in the second half. Burkburnett never punted after intermission; instead, it allowed Canyon to creep back into the affair by fumbling twice and failing to recover an onsides kick.
"We felt like we could run the ball and score, and I just hoped we could slow them down enough," Dalke said. "They got some momentum, and we were hanging on by our fingernails in the end."
The road only gets tougher for Burkburnett (8-3), which will face eighth-ranked Abilene Wylie (9-2) 7:30 p.m. Friday in Birdville. The Bulldogs are coming off an impressive 46-16 dismantling of Decatur.
In fact, Wylie has won eight straight games since losing to Graham the third week of the season.