Now he plans to make some.

"Anything can happen if we go out and play hard for four quarters," said Ryan, Eastern's talented two-way senior and leading positive thinker.

Five years ago, Eastern was the No. 8 seed in the South Jersey Group 4 Football tournament. The Vikings began postseason play at No. 1 Mainland.

Three upset victories later, Eastern was the first No. 8 seed to win the sectional title in Group 4.

Tonight, the Vikings open the Group 4 tournament as the No. 8 seed.

Their opponent?

Top-seeded Mainland.

"We mentioned it to the kids," Eastern coach Dan Spittal said. "Just in terms of the logistics, as far as getting on the bus and going down to Mainland. And we did mention that we did it before."

In 2003, Eastern featured offensive tackle Phil Trautwein, a future NFL player now starting for Florida, as well as quarterback Anthony Orio (Northeastern), running back Jahre Cheeseman (Virginia Tech), and linebacker Eric Dube, who went on to become conference defensive player of the year at Division III Dickinson.

In other words, those Vikings were the best No. 8 seed, ever.

These Vikings are 6-2, with losses to Pennsauken and Cherokee, and they needed a dramatic late rally against Winslow Township Saturday night just to qualify for the tournament.

But they have Ryan, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound athlete who has committed to play at Rutgers.

"He's had a very good year," Spittal said of Ryan. "I put him up for defense at the conference all-star meeting and some of the other coaches were asking me, 'You don't want to put him up for offense?'

"He's done a great job on offense. But I think he's an all-state cornerback."

Ryan's future is at defensive back. He is projected to play cornerback in college and he will play that position in the New Jersey vs. Northeast all-star game June 7 at Rutgers.

But the speedy lefthander is a playmaker at quarterback, especially in Eastern's spread option offense. He knows he will need to bust a move or three against Mainland's dominating defense.

"I love playing quarterback," Ryan said. "This is the last year that I'll be leading my team as a quarterback. Coach gives me a lot of freedom in our offense as far as making decisions and changing plays at the line of scrimmage."

Spittal knows the Vikings' task is daunting. Mainland in 2008 is different than Mainland in 2003. This might be veteran coach Bob Coffey's best team.

The Mustangs have outscored opponents, 334-22, behind star quarterback Brent Caprio and a swarming defense.

"I don't think anyone has scored on them first," Spittal said. "So maybe we'll get that first score and say, 'That's it. Get on the bus. Game over.' "

Ryan knows the history. He was a seventh grader in Berlin in 2003. His brother, Jordan, was on that Eastern team and his parents went to the opening-round game at Mainland.

"I remember waiting to hear the score," Ryan said. "That [Eastern, 2003] was a great team, but they can't help us on the field.

"But they did prove that a No. 8 can beat a No. 1."

Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223

or panastasia@phillynews.com.