Goshen’s pivotal showdown with Highland Home, scheduled for Friday night, has been moved to Thursday.

The threat of inclement weather has moved dozens of high school games to Thursday night and this game is one of them.

“You can’t’ control the weather and they have to do what they feel is best,” said Goshen head coach Bart Snyder. “The Alabama High Athletic Association must feel that there is a potential of something. We feel like it’s the best thing to do.”

Snyder and the Eagle coaching staff routinely preaches on the importance of staying mentally focused, but with a limited time to prepare for a such a pivotal game, Snyder and the coaching staff is putting a little more emphasis on their message.

“We know what we are supposed to be doing,” Snyder said. “Are we going to be mentally ready to execute and do those things? We are hoping that is going to be the case. Highland Home has had the same amount of time that we have had.”

Recovery from injuries usually are impacted by shorter weeks, but according to Snyder, the Eagles enter the week healthy and without any major injuries

Thursday night’s contest will have no shortage of importance. A Highland Home win would give the Flying Squadron a region championship. If the Eagles win and get a little help from Samson, who would need to beat Luverne, Goshen would become region champions. If both Goshen and Luverne win, there will be a three-way tie.

“Every game is big,” Snyder said. “We preach every game is big because there is only one team you can lose to, and that’s the team you’re playing now. Highland Home is next up on our schedule. We know that this is a big game. If you throw in all the other factors, yes it makes it big. We try to teach our kids that it’s still a game. We are going to play our game and hopefully we’ll be successful.”

Goshen’s lone loss this was season was to Luverne. They are 7-1 overall and sit at 5-1 in region play.

Highland Home fell in their season opener against Headland before rattling off seven straight wins, including six region games.

The Flying Squadron knocked off New Brockton last week, 35-28.

“They mix it up really well,” Snyder said. “Coach Pouncey does an outstanding job. They have lost one game. They beat a very sound Luverne team that beat us. They’re a good ball team and we really have to be ready and focused.”

The Eagles fell to Highland Home 27-20 last season. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.