The Andalusia Bulldogs (2-1) are off to a strong start to the 2015 football season, and will look to continue that when they host the Ashford Yellow (2-1) Jackets Friday night for homecoming.

Andalusia and Ashford have battled on the gridiron 17 times with Andalusia holding a 13-4 overall record. Ashford, however, won last year’s contest 37-7.

“This is not a team that we would hand-pick for homecoming,” Taylor said. “That is just the way it worked out. We are up for the challenge and will face them head on.”

Both teams come into the game with identical 2-1 overall records and are each 1-0 in Class 4A, Region 2 play.

The Bulldogs used an impressive running game lead by Jamal Hourel and his 250 yards to pound Trinity into submission by a score of 42-10.

Ashford enters the game with a two-game win streak in tow, after beating Houston County 39-0 in week two and knocking off region opponent Bullock County 47-20.

With homecoming week comes the typical distractions that can take focus away from the team, but Andalusia coach Trent Taylor said the Bulldogs haven’t let it get to them.

“We have had the normal distractions that come with homecoming, but I think we have handled it pretty well,” Taylor said. “Monday may have been the best Labor Day practice I’ve ever been a part of. The kids are out of school and we came in at 8 in the morning, and the kids just came in here and took care of business.”

As for Ashford, Taylor said they are a different team then they were a year ago, but they are still very athletic.

“They aren’t the same team they were a year ago,” Taylor said. “They are still very athletic at the skill positions, though.”

Taylor said he expects a lot of running from Ashford on offense.

“Offensively, they are different this year,” Taylor said. “They are very big up front and they have athletic running backs and a mobile quarterback. They are going to run the veer and just try to stay behind their big lineman. Their backs hit the holes extremely hard. This is a new offense for them and they have had a lot of success with it the past two weeks.”

When the Bulldogs are on offense, Taylor said that Ashford will shift to different fronts.

“We have had to prepare for two different looks when we are on offense,” Taylor said. “They will flip between odd and even fronts, but we are still going to attack with the run to set up the passing game.”

Taylor said the Bulldog players understand the importance of winning this region game.

“Our kids realize that four of our region opponents got wins last week and that a win to put us 2-0 in the region puts us in the driver’s seat,” Taylor said.

Homecoming festivities will begin at 2 p.m. with a parade from the high school down East Three Notch St., to the Court Square. Pre-game ceremonies and the crowning of the 2015 homecoming queen are at 6:30 p.m., and kickoff is set for 7 p.m.