A season ago, the Alcovy High varsity football team posted a big win against Morrow.

A week later, there was a letdown against Druid Hills.

The Tigers (5-2, 2-1) and coach Kirk Hoffman hope that history doesn't repeat itself this Thursday, as Alcovy hosts the Red Devils (3-4, 0-3) at Sharp Stadium for homecoming at 7 p.m.

Alcovy will play its second Thursday night game in as many weeks, but Hoffman said that the Thursday night game, and homecoming festivities, will not be distractions.

"We've still had the same amount of time, so it hasn't affected us," Hoffman said. "There are things, like homecoming, that you don't really have control over. The kids know that they have to worry about what they can control and that's what happens between kickoff and the final buzzer.

"Last year we didn't play well against them (Druid Hills), and they snuck up against us," he said. "We've reminded the kids about that and we have to go into this game playing well."

With a 2-1 mark in region play a season ago, the Tigers did falter against the Red Devils, falling 28-21.

Alcovy sports the same 2-1 region record this season, and a win over the Red Devils keep the Tigers in the hunt for the top spot in Region 2-AAAAAA.

"All you can do is remind the kids of what happened last year," Hoffman said. "As coaches, we have to remember as well that there is a different group of players playing on both sides of the ball. They're the next team up, and they're who we are preparing for."

Druid Hills enters the contest with a 0-3 mark in region play, but the Red Devils did pick up a non-region win last week over Johnson (Gainesville).

Despite their scoring just seven points in region action, Hoffman isn't taking the Red Devils lightly.

"They have a pretty good quarterback and a really athletic running back," he said. "Defensively, they get after the ball pretty well and they are an aggressive team. I've known (Druid Hills' coach Mark) Adams for almost 30 years, and he's going to have them ready."

With a chance to move to 3-1 in the region, just a game behind region leader Lovejoy, Hoffman has kept his game plan simple.

"We have to hold onto the football and not give up mistakes," Hoffman said. "On defense, it's easy. We have to make tackles. We have to limit our mistakes so that it doesn't help them."