It didn’t take Ed Rigby long to realize that a change was needed.

Goshen’s first-year offensive coordinator implemented a spread offense similar to the one the Eagles ran at times last season. They worked through the preseason to ready themselves in the new system.

A scrimmage and a game into the regular season and it was apparent things were not working out.

Goshen feel to Pike County in the season-opener, 20-11. That’s when Rigby and head coach Bart Snyder decided to go ahead and make the transition. But it wasn’t just any transition. The Eagles moved from the spread to the polar opposite style of offense… The double-wing.

“It’s something you never ever do,” Rigby said of the change one game into the season. “We were faced with a different situation. Coach Snyder has given us full reigns on what we’re doing. He has complete confidence in us as coaches.”

Before Goshen’s Week 2 match up with Luverne, Snyder and staff implemented the Wing-T.

The offense allows for a team with a undersized offensive line to use deception and misdirection to keep teams off-balance.

Goshen headed to Luverne with just three plays in its new playbook, two running plays and a pass.

“It’s something that you just don’t do once the season has started, but we’re getting better,” Rigby said. “There are times where we look unstoppable, then our youth bites us. The one thing we have continued to do is teach the fundamentals each week. These guys have responded and are improving every time we take the field.”

The Eagles, who start anywhere from three to seven freshmen and sophomores, scored just 13 points in each of their next two games. In Week 4 against Calhoun, Goshen exploded for 54 points. Last week the team totaled just 17, but had two touchdowns wiped off the board on fumbles at the goal line.

“It’s exciting to come in and watch film and see a guy that was getting killed two week ago now competing and contributing,” Rigby said. “We’re getting a lot of guys contributing in a lot of different roles.”

Rigby said he has added two plays each week. It’s more than just drawing a play up and running it, however. If the play isn’t working in practice, it’s scrapped and something else is introduced.

“If you can’t run it against air and you can’t get it right against the practice defense, you sure can’t run it in a game against a good team,” said Rigby. “If we’re not running it right or we’re not getting it, We’ll try something different.”

Goshen will have its hands full this week as they travel to face defending Class 2A state champions Elba.

The Tigers aren’t enjoying the same success they did a year ago, however. Elba is 3-2, tough they remain undefeated in region play.

The playoff scenario for Goshen is simple. The team has four regions games left against Elba, Central-Hayneville, Highland Home and Zion Chapel. The Eagles feel like they must win three of those games to earn a berth into the postseason and Rigby is confident the team can get it done.

“I think after those games are played, we’ll have the three wins. We’ll be in.”

Kickoff for Goshen and Elba is set for 7 p.m.