Pleasant Home, Florala clash on gridiron

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 14, 2015

There may be no postseason for the Pleasant Home Eagles (0-7, 0-4) and the Florala Wildcats (1-5, 0-4), but there is still plenty on the line when the two cross-county rivals collide Friday night at Matthew Stadium in Florala.

“We are getting there,” Eagles’ coach Chris Mason said. “I’m proud of the way the kids have played, we haven’t quit, but we just haven’t been able to do our job. For as much as we have been in the loss column, these boys haven’t shown any quite, and I’m very proud of that. We let three games this year slip through our fingers. This game means a lot for our program. There may not be any playoff implications, but we can use this a stepping stone and as a turning point for this program. I’m tired of being the team everyone expects to lose. I want everyone to expect us to win. We are getting there, but we just haven’t gotten there yet.”

Pleasant Home leads the all-time series between the Class 1A, Region 2 foes with a record of 9-6, but it was the Wildcats who picked up victories in the previous two contest.

Coming into the contest, the Eagles have scored 101 points this season and have given up 297. Florala has scored 92 points and has allowed 317.

Pleasant Home will be searching for their first win of the season after narrowly falling to Red Level last Friday, 28-20.

Florala fell last week to McKenzie 53-0, and are looking for their second win of the season after beating McIntosh 56-40 earlier in the season.

Unfortunately, both Florala and Pleasant Home will miss the playoffs this season, but still have plenty of pride left to play for.

“For us, we are putting this as a must win for our program,” Eagles’ coach Chris Mason said. “In everyone else’s eyes, this game means nothing, but for us it is a must win. We have let a few games slip by, and when we match up with someone athletically it’s frustrating to beat yourself. That is what I’ve been most disappointed at this point in the season.”

Kickoff Friday night between the Wildcats and the Eagles will be at 7 p.m., at Matthews Stadium on the campus of Florala High School.

Left on the schedule for Florala will be Region 2 opponent Kinston and a non-region game against J.F. Shields.

After Friday, the Eagles will have one region contest left against Brantley, and a non-region game against Samson.