Opp will play host to Pike County this Friday night in what Bobcats head football coach Jack Whigham calls an important region match up.

“They’ve got a really talented team,” Whigham said. “They’ve got a lot of athletic ability.”

With that talent and athletic ability, the Bulldogs also have a new head coach in Fred Holland, who took over for former coach Rodney Dollar. Dollar was placed on administrative leave on Sept. 19.

Whigham said Holland brings with him a load of experience.

“Coach Holland was there when they won a state championship,” he said. “They’ve gotten better. You can see on film the difference.

“The danger we face is that they are 0-5. They have the capability to beat us,” he said. “We’ve got to limit the mistakes we’re making.”

The Bobcats ( are coming off a 14-13 overtime loss to Straughn, and a win this week is essential, Whigham said.

“We need to keep winning our region games,” he said. “We need to come back a little bit from a disappointing week last week to build some confidence.”

Pike County quarterback Marlin Meadows, sophomore running back Raheem Pearlson and outside linebacker Tehron Stallworth are on the top of the Bobcats radar this week, Whigham said.

But, what’s Whigham’s main concern is going into this game is the fact that his players will take the game “lightly.”

“We had a great day of practice Wednesday, and it was probably the best since the Luverne week,” he said. “We’re going to have to play a good game. We need to all that we can to win the game, and get off to a good start.

“If we win this one, it won’t guarantee us a spot in the playoffs, but it will go a long way to help us secure a playoff spot,” he said.