The Straughn Tigers and the Houston Academy Raiders gear up for Friday night’s region contest in Dothan as they both vie for their first win of the season.

Straughn fought a tough battle last week against Geneva, but failed scoring opportunities saw the Tigers end up on the short end of a 14-0 defeat.

Houston County is coming off a big region loss to Wicksburg. Wicksburg defeated both Houston County and Straughn 46-0.

Despite how the season has gone, Straughn head coach John Higgins said he is proud of the way his team has handled the adversities.

“One thing that I love so much about this group of kids is that they have no quit in them,” Higgins said. “Things haven’t gone the way we wanted, but the kids still come in each day with a great attitude and ready to work.”

Higgins said that youth and inexperience was an issue to start the season.

“There is no way around it,” Higgins said. “We are a young team, but there is only so long that you can use inexperience as an excuse. We are over halfway through the season, so that isn’t the case. I place the blame squarely on my shoulders.”

Even though there aren’t many, Higgins said his seniors have been a special group.

“Our seniors have been great,” Higgins said. “I really want to get a few wins just for them. They deserve that.”