It has been a long time coming, but things are finally starting to look up in Brundidge, Alabama.

The Pike County Bulldogs are looking to make it two region wins in as many weeks when they travel to Montgomery to take on the Montgomery Catholic Knights this Friday night.

The Bulldogs are coming off a dominating 29-14 win over region rival Daleville. Head coach Fred Holland praised his Bulldogs on the progress they have made since the beginning of the season. “We’re slowly progressing,” Holland said. “Each week, our goal is to try to get better. Our coaches have been doing a real good job working with the kids.”

The Bulldogs head into Friday’s match up against a Montgomery Catholic team that has had a tough season in region play, failing to record a region win this season. In fact, the Knights have not put up more than nine points in a region game all year.

Coach Holland said that is team is not overlooking the Knights, however. “I’ve been watching tape on their past few games, and I think they’re getting better,” Holland said. “They’re at home. They’ve got a lot to play for. They’re trying to get that first region win. We’re trying to keep the region wins coming. It’ll be a good game.”

Last week, Pike County found success on the ground from the legs of senior running back LaMarcus Adair who ran for over 100 yards.

Holland said to expect more of the same this Friday night. “It’s always good when you can run the ball,” Holland said. “It lets us manage the game, manage the clock, and keep their defense on the field. We love to have out offense on the field as good as they have been playing.”

Holland’s offense will look to capitalize against a Knight defense that has given up nearly 35 points a game on the season. The Bulldogs offense has put up at least 20 points in every game this year.

Holland said that the Bulldog defense is staying on its toes despite the poor offensive production from the Knights, “I think they’ve got a real good offense,” Holland said, “They throw the ball around real well up there, and they have two pretty good backs.”

Even after four weeks of region play, the Class 3A Region 2 playoff race is still muddled.

Dale County sits atop the region at 4-0 in region play. Montgomery Catholic is at the bottom of the region at 0-4. The remaining six teams, including Pike County, sit at 2-2 in the region.

As it stands, the Bulldogs control their own destiny.

If they win their remaining four region games, they are assured of a playoff spot and will most likely host a first round playoff game, something the Bulldogs have not done since 2009.

Holland said that the team is not concerned with the future but is instead focusing on the present. “We’re not overlooking anybody, and we’re not planning for the playoffs,” Holland said.

This group may not be the Bulldogs of the mid 2000s, but with continued efforts on both sides of the ball, there is no reason why Pike County cannot make a deep playoff run.

trails the overall series with Montgomery Catholic 1-2, but the Bulldogs won the only meeting between the two schools in the past 50 years.

Last year, the Bulldogs beat the Knights 47-34 in Brundidge. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Montgomery.