It’s been eight years since Blake won a postseason football game, or finished with a winning record. The 2013 Bears are now one win away from finishing this season 7-1, and have a lot more than just notching a postseason victory on their minds.

With an 11-51 record in the past seven seasons, the Bears have had little prospect heading into section play. This year’s squad is focused and hungry, bolstered by one of its biggest senior classes in years, a talented running back and a coach who has had four years to implement his system.

“When we came in four years ago, we had a group of freshmen that were good athletes,” coach John Coatta said. “They know how we are as a staff. They know what is expected of them. That’s been one of the most important factors.”

The senior class, led by Marcus Berg, Oliver Cornelius-Knudsen, Jake Hoops, Tom Mahoney and Rory Taylor, has had the benefit of being coached by Coatta for all four years. While that familiarity is beginning to pay off, the character of the 2013 class isn’t limited to experience and numbers.

“It’s a very loose crew, they don’t get too uptight about anything,” Coatta said. “You always worry a little bit about a year like this, and how they are going to respond to success. We as coaches have let that be their personality.”

One of those senior leaders who has taken on the offensive load again this fall is Berg at running back. The three-year starter was forced into more of the spotlight when fellow senior John Veil, the team’s starting quarterback, broke his collarbone in the third game of the season.

Heading into Blake’s final regular-season game Wednesday against St. Paul Academy, Berg has averaged more than 150 rushing yards per game, including 229 yards against rival Breck and 225 yards against Providence Academy.

Berg credits his success to years of playing at the varsity level, experience that has given him a better instinct and vision on the field. He has averaged more than 6 yards per carry this year.

Though the yardage may beg to differ, the offense hasn’t been solely dependent on Berg’s legs. Coatta has been able to keep defenses honest with Mahoney, his receiver-turned-quarterback, and a few adjustments to Blake’s spread passing attack.

With dual threat Veil unable to play, Coatta has shifted to a short passing game that uses play-action and rollouts, giving receivers one-on-one coverage and simplifying the field.

Those adjustments aren’t a fluke. Nor would anyone in the Blake program consider the team’s success this season a fortuitous alignment of the stars.

Coatta’s football acumen was seasoned by collegiate coaching stints at the University of Central Florida and the University of St. Thomas, as well as being the head coach at Bloomington Kennedy and offensive coordinator at Minnetonka. But what has set apart this year’s Blake squad is something Coatta has believed in wherever he’s been: having fun and developing young men.

“Our senior class has done a great job incorporating all grades, making all classes feel like they’re a part of the team.” Berg said. “That’s key for us; we all practice together, and we all play together. We’re one family and one community.”

The Bears have no doubt had fun in their single-loss season, but the attitude is changing. Their sights are now set on making the most of the one-and-done atmosphere of postseason play.

“We’re excited, but it’s business now,” Berg said. “Each week is the biggest game of the year.”