(Matt McCarthy/Daily News photo) FLORENCE SOPHOMORE QUARTERBACK William Kelley prepares to throw in an MONLPC 8 West Division game on Oct. 15 versus White Lake-Elcho at Robert Landry Field in Florence. Kelley is a dual-threat quarterback in the running and passing game of the Bobcats offense.

FLORENCE, Wis. — Finishing 5-3 in the regular season after a 28-20 defeat of White Lake-Elcho Friday night at Robert Landry Field, the Florence Bobcats qualified for the WIAA 8-player football playoffs for the third time in the last four years. In their pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Bobcats didn’t make the state playoffs.

Head coach Kent Walstrom and the Bobcats will play Marinette-Oconto Northern Lakes Packerland 8 Conference East Division champions Lena-St. Thomas Aquinas Academy at 7 tonight at Lena High School.

Walstrom stated that his squad will be missing its two starting running backs in junior Evan Johnson (appendectomy) and sophomore Logan Schuls (concussion) for what will be Florence’s second game of the season versus Lena-STAA.

“It was a close game when we played at Lena earlier this season (Sept. 2) — we were down 14-8 into the fourth quarter,” Walstrom said. “They’re a fast and physical team, with a very athletic quarterback and a power run game that presents problems defending the run and pass. They’re very deserving of their playoff seed, so it’s a great challenge for us.”

One of Lena-STAA’s (8-0) closest games of the season was a 36-14 home win over Algoma on Sept. 30. Florence also defeated Algoma, 14-6, to open the season on Aug. 27.

“This is one of the stronger regions in the state playoffs with two undefeated teams in Lena and Laona-Wabeno. Three Lakes’ only loss came to Laona-Wabeno in a game they were winning midway through the fourth quarter, and our game at Three Lakes was a 26-16 loss, a good, close game,” Walstrom added. “Neither Laona-Wabeno or Three Lakes had to play Lena, so our four teams make it a very competitive part of the state playoffs bracket.”

The Bobcats lost at Three Lakes, 26-16, and at L-W, 44-0. in consecutive weeks on Sept. 17 and 23.

“Over 50 teams playing 8-player in Wisconsin, and only 16 qualify for the playoffs, so it’s tough getting in,” Walstrom said. “A much smaller percentage of teams than what qualify for 11-man, so it’s a nice accomplishment to make it in again, and we’ll try our best to be competitive,” he said.