In order to keep the momentum up during the playoffs, Straughn’s Tigers have taken their practices to a new level.

After their bye week on week 10, the Tigers decided to “up the tempo” at practice, SHS head football coach Trent Taylor said.

“We’re still getting things done, and staying on schedule,” Taylor said. “We’re trying to get them to move to one station and the next at a faster rate.

“Again, they are high school kids. The ideal situation would be that all 70 would come ready and can’t wait to practice.”

Keeping the players sharp mentally is also an ideal goal the coaches are striving to achieve, Taylor said.

“Sometimes that’s just by keeping them off balance, changing the practice schedule up a little bit and doing things at different times,” he said. “I think the biggest thing is changing the tempo at practice. The kids are going to feed off of that a little bit.”

Taylor said there isn’t any worry that his players will be tired at this point during the postseason.

“I’ve reminded them that now is the reason that you play all of those games before (during the regular season),” he said. “You can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. It is a grueling five weeks. I think the team — obviously talent has a lot to do with it — the teams that can withstand the grind are probably the two teams that are going to wind up there (at the state championship game).”

The Tigers travel to face Dale County tonight in the second round of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Class 3A state playoffs.

Kick off is at 7 p.m.