By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

Entering their final game of the 2011 season, the Ellwood Christian Academy Eagles will take the field Friday night hoping they can find something positive to build on for next season.

The Eagles (0-10, 0-6) will be home at Memorial Stadium when they face The Lakeside School Chiefs (2-6, 0-4) Friday at 7 p.m.

Eagles head football coach Mike Stokes said his team is working hard in practice leading up to Friday night.

“We’re just going to keep doing the same things, and keep playing hard,” Stokes said. “Hopefully we can find some good bright spots that help us get ready for next year.”

The Eagles are preparing to play a Chiefs team that has a running-style offense, but loves to attack opposing defenses through the air.

“They’re a wishbone team sometimes,” Stokes said. “They’ll throw the ball. They’ve got a darn good quarterback and receiver. We’ve got to stop those two.”

Stokes said the key to Friday night’s game will be who makes the fewest mistakes and plays hard the entire game.

“We’ve just got to play hard, and hold on to the ball and not make mistakes,” Stokes said. “If we can do that and play four quarters, we’ll be okay.”

With the Eagles first year in 11-man football coming to a close, Stokes reiterated the team is looking for positive things to build upon as the program moves forward.

Stokes said a win would go a long way toward getting the program where he wants it to be.

“It would be a tremendous boost,” Stokes said. “We’re trying to get it through to the kids that you go out and show that you’ve gotten better, and continue to work and continue to play. You come out with a win and it’ll give us some momentum we can carry over to next year.”