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The Pike County Bulldogs (3-5, 3-3) look at every week as a “must win” game but this week that looms even larger against the New Brockton Gamecocks (3-6, 2-4) with a playoff berth hanging in the balance.

For Pike County to earn a spot in the Class 4A Playoffs, the Bulldogs have to beat New Brockton this week and hope for an Ashford loss. Pike County dropped a heartbreaker to Class 4A, Region 2 No. 1 seed Dale County last week.

“I thought we played extremely hard,” PCHS Coach Mark Hurt said of the Dale County loss. “They just simply made more plays than we did.”

New Brockton is coming into the game off a 36-33 loss to Straughn last week. The Gamecocks have changed up their offense in recent weeks, which will provide for some unique challenges for the Bulldogs.

“Based on the last few games, they’ve changed up their offense a little bit,” Hurt said. “They’ve been doing a lot more ‘Wildcat’ stuff with one of their receivers playing quarterback. It’s sort of like two offenses right now.

“With one you get more of a passing game and the other is more of a downhill running offense with an extra blocker because you have your quarterback running the ball.”

Pike County needs to win and also for Ashford to lose to last place Daleville to earn a playoff spot, but Hurt is concentrating on making sure his Bulldogs are focused on what they can control.

“I just want to see a win,” he emphasized. “I want us to compete hard and overcome all obstacles we face. We just need to get a win, that’s what we’re focused on.”

Pike County and New Brockton meet at Gamecock Stadium in New Brockton on Friday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m.