CASHMERE — Phil Zukowski has seen a lot from the sidelines in his nearly 15 years of experience coaching high school football. But this week he’s been getting ready for something he’s never faced in the 150-odd games he’s coached. And he’s not exactly thrilled about it.

“This is a first for me, and it’s got me a little concerned,” Zukowski said.

On Friday, Zukowski’s Cashmere Bulldogs will host Chelan in district playoff action in a rematch of last Thursday’s season finalé, the first time in Zukowski’s coaching career that he’s had to face the same opponent in back-to-back weeks.

It also is the first playoff game in Cashmere’s quest to defend its Class 1A state title from 2008.

Some might point to last Thursday’s margin of victory — the Bulldogs beat the Goats 31-13 — and say Zukowski is just trying to make sure his squad doesn’t overlook the Goats. But Zukowski is quick to point out that game was closer than the final score indicated.

“We got 17 points out of the punting game,” he said.

The Bulldogs returned one punt for a touchdown, blocked another and recovered it in the end zone for a second touchdown, and turned another blocked punt into a field goal.

Without those points, not to mention the momentum that came with them, it could have been a different game.

And speaking of different, the Goats are not the same power running team they’ve been in the past. Instead of extensively utilitizing a double tight end formation and trying to overpower teams, the Goats have opened things up with freshman Michael Amsel under center in place of the injured Evan Reister.

“They’re not the team they were in previous years, or even at the start of this season,” Zukowski said.

The Bulldogs and Goats will kick things off at 7 p.m. Friday in Cashmere.

The other three playoff qualifiers from the CTL have their district games Saturday in Moses Lake. Each will face teams from the Northeast A league. Omak meets Freeman at 1 p.m., followed by Cascade taking on Kettle Falls at 4 p.m. Okanogan faces NEA champ Chewelah at 7 p.m.