The last time Alcovy walked off the football field after a game, it was after a bitter defeat at home to Dutchtown. The Tigers had a hard time moving the ball on the ground and didn’t really try to pass much. That was two weeks ago.

Tonight they get a chance to get back in the win column when they travel to Ola for a regional matchup.

A win would bolster the Tigers’ playoff chances and everything is there for the taking. The Mustangs have struggled on offense and Alcovy’s defense has been playing at a high level. Still, Alcovy coach Kirk Hoffman knows his team has a lot of work to do before the playoffs come.

"We used the off week to work on those things that we felt like needed the most improvement," he said. "We spent the time covering all phases of the game (offense, defense, kicking game). To be successful we need to take care of the football and be disciplined on defense."

Expect to se a healthy dose of Rod Tolen, Malachi Outlaw and DeVon Edwards in the running game as the Tigers’ bread and butter is rushing. Defensively, the Tigers hope to limit a Mustang team that has struggled to score. While Alcovy is holding teams to 13.2 points per game, Ola is scoring just 9.6.

A win would move Alcovy one step closer to a playoff berth. Right now though, Hoffman isn't looking past a dangerous Mustang team.

"This week is important because it is the next game," Hoffman said. "One sign off a good football team is the ability to focus on the next game and to take each game one at a time. In the last game, we did not do the things that helped us in the other games. We had too many turnovers and did not execute very well. If we take care of the ball and play the way we are capable of, we should be okay."

Coaches: Alcovy, Kirk Hoffman; Ola, John Kovzel

Records: Alcovy (3-3, 2-2 Region 4-AAAA); Ola (1-6, 1-4)

Last week: Alcovy, idle, Ola, lost to Dutchtown 49-7

Prediction: ALCOVY, This is a make or break game for the Tigers. With two weeks to prepare, conventional wisdom says Alcovy should take care of business, especially against an inferior opponent. At some point, though, the Tigers will need to pass the ball to win. They should be able to run their way to a victory at least one more time. From here on out, Alcovy can ill afford to make mistakes and must play smart. Tigers win by 4.