The Florala Wildcats (1-3, 0-2) look to get things back on track as they prepare to take on the Elba Tigers (3-0, 2-0) on Friday in Elba.

“They are a really good team,” Florala head coach Scott Mason said. “They are as good as advertised.”

Mason said the Wildcats have had a rash of injuries that has caused problems with the depth chart.

“This week, we just want to keep us healthy,” Mason said. “We have lost several key players lately. We are down to the bare minimum at several spots. Right now, we are just really beat up.”

Getting better each week is something Mason said he wants to see from his team.

“Our game plan is to do what we have to do to get better each week,” Mason said. “We have to be more physical, execute and just be better with the fundamentals.”

Mason said that Elba has a tough team.

“They are a very well balanced team,” Mason said. “They can run and throw the ball well. They like to spread it out and then run it down you throat. We are going to have to keep them from getting to the edge. They have a pair of running backs that if you give them an inch, they will hurt you. We are going to have to meet them in the hole and be really physical this week. On defense, they run a four front and their front four are as good as we have seen. They really fly to the ball and they are well coached.”

Mason said that the Wildcats can’t make it harder on themselves this week than it has to be.

“This is going to be a tall order to beat them,” Mason said. “They are probably the best team in our classification. We can not put ourselves in bad situations. Third-and-longs will kill you. That is a recipe for disaster. That’s what hurt us Friday night. We need to play well. This week, we are stressing execution. If we continue the process of getting better each week, we can be serious contenders.”

Florala and Elba are tied 14-14 in the all-time series, but this is the first meeting between the two squads since 1975.

Elba enters the game on a three-game win streak with wins over Opp, Pleasant Home and Kinston.

Florala opened the year with a win, but lost their last three games to Cottage Hill Christian, Georgiana and Brantley.

Kickoff between Florala and Elba is set for 7 p.m., Friday.