The Goshen Eagles have been a part of the playoff picture in the state of Alabama in each of the last six years, but head coach Bart Snyder feels just making the post season isn’t enough.

Goshen, fresh off an impressive 20-14 victory over 1A powerhouse McKenzie last Thursday, enters the Alabama High School Athletic Association playoffs for the sixth consecutive season Friday night.

“We are proud of making the playoffs for now six years in a row,” Snyder said. “But just getting there is not what we want. We want to be in the mix for titles every season. We can’t become satisfied with just being there. Dr. Weeks (GHS principal), Dr. Bazzell (Pike County Schools superintendent) and myself all want us to be the best we can be. That starts this week.”

Goshen enters the first-round game against Sweetwater at 5-5 on the season, but are seemingly just a handful of plays away from being 7-3 or better.

The Eagles, as Snyder says, “played the worst games of the year” in losses to Pike County and Elba, but hung tough with region champion Luverne.

Goshen’s other two losses, to Highland Home and Geneva, are games that Snyder feels his team should have won.

“We made some mistakes on the field, but we have also been hit pretty hard by injuries,” Snyder said. “We have gotten better through the season, but there are a couple things that we have seen, that if we would have done better, we would have a couple of more wins that what we do.”

Goshen picked up four key region wins, New Brockton, Central-Hayneville, Calhoun and Zion Chapel, this season.

Despite a 5-5 record, Snyder feels that his team has played well against some of the best talent in all of 2A football.

“You just look around our region, and there are athletes everywhere,” said Snyder. “Calhoun and Central haven’t won a lot of games, but they are some of the most athletic kids in the state in any classification. Luverne, Elba and Highland Home all are great football teams with great players and coaches. I firmly feel that our region, top to bottom, is one of the best and most athletic in the state.”

Goshen has won three of its last four games, and is playing with more confidence than what it started the season with.

“We have had a lot of younger kids step up and play well,” Snyder said. “We are better than what our record shows, I fully believe that. But we have to play well every week. It is a new season now. We must take it one day and one week at a time.

Goshen travels to Sweetwater Friday night in the first round of the AHSAA playoffs.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. From Nolan Atkins Stadium.