The Straughn Tigers are looking for strong showing when they kick off the 2017 high school football season Friday night with a road trip to Brantley.

With rain in the forecast, Straughn head coach John Higgins said the Tigers have been preparing to play in wet conditions.

“The rain isn’t going to change our play calling, but we are preparing for it to be a factor on Friday night,” Higgins said. “Wet or not, we have to have execution.”

Higgins said the Tigers are going to Brantley looking for a moral victory.

“We need to win this game to build confidence,” Higgins said. “We want to start the season off on the right foot. Our expectations are to win. We are not playing for a moral victory.”

Brantley currently leads the series with an 8-5 record, but Straughn was able to come away with a 49-48 victory over the Bulldogs in 2016.

In 2015, Brantley won 14-13 in overtime. The past three games between Straughn and Brantley have been decided by a combined nine points.

Brantley enters the season as No. 5-ranked team in Class 1A.

Straughn is not ranked entering the season.