Following Friday night's loss to Class 6A's Wetumpka Indians, 34-19, Greenville head coach Bryant Vincent said he was disappointed in his team's effort that night, but he was extremely proud of their effort all season.

And although the game and the regular season ended with a loss, a new season begins Friday and Vincent said his team must get tougher because the competition is going to get tougher.

The tough competition begins Friday with the Demopolis Tigers.

&#8220We are playing a team that knows what it's like to be in the playoffs,” Vincent said.

No kidding.

Demopolis has reached the quarterfinals of the state playoffs for the last three seasons and won the Class 4A State Championship in 2004 before moving up to Class 5A.

&#8220(Our) players, coaches and administration has fought hard to build a program back up,” Vincent said. &#8220Basically building a program like Demopolis has.”

The Tigers of Demopolis are the No. 3 seed in Region 3 and finished the regular season with an 8-2 record.

Demopolis is led by running back Lucious Haywood, who Vincent said his team must stop in order to win the game.

&#8220(Haywood) has been a tremendous force all year long,” Vincent said. &#8220He's a big, bruising back.”

Greenville also enters Friday's first round with an 8-2 record and have also been powered by the running game.

Senior running back Brandon Cheatham has 968 yards on 131 carries and four touchdowns while junior quarterback Casey Weston has 762 yards on the ground and 17 touchdowns.

Through the air, Weston has completed 83-of-137 passes for 1,059 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions. Senior wide receiver Lynn Lewis is the team's leading receiver with 37 catches for 585 yards and two touchdowns.

Greenville will host the first round after taking second in Region 2 and Vincent said it's time for everyone to do their part Friday night.

&#8220We've fought hard to give back this season and now it's time for the community to give back,” Vincent said. &#8220We have to make this home-field advantage truly a home-field advantage.”

Greenville will hold a community-wide pep rally Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. at Tiger Stadium and everyone is invited to attend.

Tiger Walk will begin at 6:15 p.m. Friday and kickoff is at 7 p.m.