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The Pike County Bulldogs (3-3, 3-1) will host the Straughn Tigers (3-3, 3-1) in a Class 4A, Region 2 game this week as both teams continue to look to secure a playoff spot.

Pike County, Straughn, Opp and Dale County are all sitting at 3-1 in the region with four playoff spots up for grabs. Pike County still has three region games left on the schedule, including the Straughn game and a face off with Dale County.

Pike County is coming off a 40-0 win over Daleville last week, while Straughn beat Ashford by a score of 21-14.

“I feel good about last week, I feel like there was an improvement and we did what we were supposed to do and we’re getting better,” PCHS Coach Mark Hurt said.

Hurt said he knows this Friday night will be a physical contest.

“I think it will be a very tough, very physical game,” he said. “They have good size up front and run down hill at you. They don’t mind hitting, that’s for sure. It’s going to be a really physical game. I feel like our younger guys are starting to grow up. We just need to try and finish strong. We’re getting better and improving, that’s the key.”

Pike County and Straughn have met a total of 10 times with the Bulldogs holding a 7-3 edge over the Tigers. Straughn, however, has won the last two matchups in 2022 and 2023, both by the score of 20-19.

“I just want to see our guys come out focused and play really, really hard,” Hurt said. “It’s really going to be a tough game for us. Any time you play a physical team with good size you really have to match their physicality. So, that’s what I want to see.”