Pleasant Home head football coach Chris Mason summed up McKenzie in one word three times — fast.

“They do what they do,” Mason said. “That’s using their speed to their advantage. I think they understand we’re a little bit bigger than them. They’re probably going to try to beat us on the edge. Maybe after last week, they’ll try to probably beat us deep with passing.”

Mason said containment is a must this week, along with keeping the Tigers “off the edge.”

“Offensively, they played a team last week in Highland Home that did some similar things that we do,” he said. “I think that gives us an idea of how they’re going to defend it.”

The Eagles lost 49-28 to New Brockton last week after a few injuries plagued the small 1A school. Mason doesn’t comment on injuries to his players.

One of the injuries occurred to Pleasant Home running back Jon Cole Chesser, as was confirmed by his mom, Jennifer Armstrong.

“It’s been really hard for him the past couple of days,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong said her son tore his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), will need reconstructive surgery next week, and will be out for the rest of the season.

“He just feels like he let the team down,” Armstrong said, adding that Chesser will miss basketball season, too. “Baseball has not always been his sport, but he said he’ll read a book or two.”

In spite of losing Chesser on the ground game, Mason said the Eagles will keep doing what they’ve been doing.

“I would like to keep it more on the ground and play ball control,” the coach said. “We want to hold on to that ball and not give them a chance to score. If that happens, then the game changes.

“If we stay close with them, maybe some things will go our way,” he said.

Mason said running back Christian Adams, quarterback Terrance Clemons and Condie Pugh are the main McKenzie threats.

With this being week two for the Eagles, it’s also the start of Class 1A, Region 2 play, which determines who goes to the playoffs.

Kick off is at 7 p.m.