The Straughn Tigers’ football team will wrap up spring practice with a game against Monroe County High School today in Monroeville.

“I thought the spring went really well for us,” second-year Straughn head coach Chris Wilson said. “We have had some really good practices, but we still have some holes to fill and things to work on. The players and coaches are excited and we all ready to play someone other than ourselves.”

After moving from Class 4A to 3A, the Tigers find themselves in a region.

“We getting ready for the new region and we are read to see how can compete,” Wilson said. “At this point, it’s hard to really tell how you match up with these teams, but I think athletically we will match up well and maybe have some advantages. It’s hard to tell though trying to base it on last year because some of the teams have moved up from 2A or down from 4A.”

One strong point that Wilson said he saw during spring was the quarterback play.

“The guys stepping up this year to fill the quarterback position have done and outstanding job,” Wilson said. “The offensive line has also down a great job. We returned all but one guy upfront and we fill like the things we do upfront will be our strong suit.”

Wilson said the quick learning and decision making of all the players has been great this spring.

“We are doing a few new things on both sides of the ball this season,” Wilson said. “They have picked up really quick and they making great decisions on the field. I’m ready to see how that will carry over into a game.”

With the process of learning different offense, Wilson said there have been some mistakes along the way, but they quickly recover.

“There have been mistakes, but one of the most exciting things I’ve seen this spring is how quickly they realize their mistakes, correct it and move on,” Wilson said. “I just really like the way we are competing, learning and correcting our mistakes.”

One thing Wilson said he looks for in spring is for who will step up and fill roles.

“You know the guys that you have returning that are going to help you, but I’m looking for the guy who was on the cusp last year,” Wilson said. “That’s the guys I’m looking for to see how many of them that were on the cusp last year will step up into roles this year.”

Wilson said one spot the Tigers must replace a lot of players is at linebacker.

“We lost a lot of linebackers off last year’s team that have to be replaced, “ Wilson said. “I’m ready to see how the guys who are stepping into those roles will react in a game.”

As for the spring game against Monroe County, Wilson said that it’s a chance to get everyone some experience and seeing how they will make decisions under fire.

The game between Monroe County and Straughn will begin at 6 p.m.

The game will begin with the two middle school teams playing the first quarter. In the second quarter the junior varsity squads will take over, and then the varsity teams will take the field for the second half.