By SHAWN SKAGER

sskager@auburn-reporter.com

It’s gut-check time for the Auburn Riverside football team.

Tonight the Ravens (3-2 South Puget Sound League North 4A, 4-2 overall) will begin their bid for one of five divisional playoff spots with a 7 p.m. road game against Tahoma (0-5, 1-5).

The Ravens find themselves tied for fourth place in the league race with Kentridge (3-2, 3-3) and Kent-Meridian (3-2, 4-2). Kentwood (5-0, 6-0), Kentlake (5-1, 5-1) and Auburn (4-1, 4-2) hold down the top-three spots in the North, leaving Auburn Riverside with just two opportunities – including a shot at the fifth spot, which is a pigtail playoff game against the SPSL South 4A’s No. 5 team – for postseason glory.

With Auburn and Kentwood awaiting the Ravens in their final two regular-season games, the road to the playoffs will not be easy, according to Ravens coach Bob Morgan.

“Those are some tough games, including the Tahoma game,” he said. “Their record doesn’t show it, but (the Bears) are a really strong team.”

Despite three strong opponents remaining on the schedule, the Ravens are exactly where they want to be at this point in the season, Morgan said.

“We knew we had the potential to be here at this point, whether everything would fall into place, we weren’t sure,” Morgan said. “We’re happy with where we’re at, but we still need to get better each game.”

So far this season the Ravens have found success by controlling and outscoring their opponents 201-114.

Controlling the ball and stopping Tahoma’s rushing attack will be the key tonight, Morgan said.

“We have to make sure we can take care of their sweep and counter plays,” Morgan said. “On offense, we just need to control the ball. We’ve been doing pretty good at that.

“Our job is to try and keep their offense off the field.”