The McKenzie Tigers hit the road Friday to face a Red Level Tigers team looking to snap its seven-game losing streak.

The winless Red Level Tigers have struggled in many ways throughout the 2017 season, being outscored 335-57 across seven games.

Because McKenzie currently sits at No. 7 with a 1-4 region record, the team’s playoff hopes were dashed last Friday. 

Three teams (Georgiana, Brantley and Houston County) are confirmed for playoff play, and three teams currently sit one game ahead of McKenzie at 2-3 (Florala, Kinston and Pleasant Home) for the No. 4 spot.

Because Florala and Kinston play each other in their final game, either team will finish the season at 3-4 in region play at worst.  In the event that McKenzie wins out in its remaining two games and also finishes region play at 3-4, the winning team between Florala and Kinston would be ranked higher because McKenzie suffered losses to both teams this season.

Despite that fact, McKenzie head football coach Tony Norris said that he and his players won’t take the region battle lightly, nor their opponent, regardless of the playoff picture.

Still, McKenzie’s biggest focal point this week at practice is, perhaps unsurprisingly, McKenzie.

After suffering a 58-0 loss at home to in-county rival Georgiana Friday, McKenzie is going back to the drawing board to correct some fundamental mistakes.

“We’re going to focus on us,” Norris said.

“We’re going to go back to work this week and try to get better.”

The McKenzie Tigers’ small but scrappy roster has taken hit after hit, most notably with junior wide receiver and popular target Quindario Lee sitting on the sidelines with a foot injury.

The past couple of weeks haven’t been especially kind to the Red Level Tigers, either, as they’ve allowed 102 points in their past two games.

McKenzie travels to Red Level Friday.  Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.