Straughn coach Trent Taylor said Tuesday that his team’s end-of-the-regular-season road contest against Daleville won’t be an easy one.

Daleville, in Class 3A, Region 2 is sitting at 8-1, and have claimed the region title. The Warhawks’ only loss came in the second week of the season to Straughn’s county opponent, Opp. The Bobcats won over the Warhawks on Sept. 3, 21-2.

“They’ve got athletes all over the field,” Taylor said about Daleville. “They jump around offensively,” he said. “They’ll be in the ‘I’ one play, and then they’ll be in the gun the next. They just do a lot of different things offensively. The quarterback throws the ball extremely well, and he’s got two to three guys at receiver that can go and catch the ball real well.”

Taylor said the focus at practice this week hasn’t changed from the norm.

He added that Ashford is similar to Daleville in how they play on offense. Last week, the Tigers (8-1) earned a 21-0 shut out over the Yellow Jackets to secure the No. 2 seed in Class 4A, Region 2.

“Every week we do a lot of skilling,” Taylor said about practice. “Ashford was really no different. They were under center one play, and in the gun the next. We’ll just continue to try to focus on the things that we do.

“When you get to this point, and you know that this game, it’s not a rivalry, it’s not a pride game, it’s really a game that’s there before you get started before the second part of the season,” he said.

Usually on the last game of the regular season, Straughn will play county rival Red Level. Red Level is traveling to play Florala Friday night, instead.

Next week, the Tigers will host Class 4A, Region 1 No. 3 seed UMS-Wright.

Taylor said in a way the game Friday night against Daleville is a good pre-cursor to the start of the playoffs.

“It is, but I think there’s probably different opinions on that,” Taylor said. “There would be some that would say it would be great to have an open week to get some kids well, and really focus more on yourself as a team.

“Then, the other thing that makes it more difficult is that it’s a short week,” he said. “The kids are here on Sunday, and you give them the film. Monday is Tuesday’s practice, and Tuesday is Wedneday’s practice. Everything is in fast forward mode.”

Kickoff in Daleville is at 7 p.m.