The Selma Times-Journal

The mission for Lowndes Academy: To be perfect in the regular season.

The last remaining bastion standing in the way: A very capable Fort Dale team.

The Rebels (9-0, 6-0 Class AA Region 2) have a target on their backs and they’re playing on the road.

Not to mention their game tonight is against a team that is a class above them and is one of the best in the state.

Mission: Impossible?

“We know this is a real good ball club,” Lowndes coach Art Sullivan said. “They lost one game and ended up in second in the AAA West region. This is not a region game, but it’s still important to win. We’re trying to go 10-0. They’re a real strong, quick team, especially on defense. They move to the ball better than any team we’ve played this year.”

The Eagles (8-1, 6-1) take the game yard-by-yard and run right at people. They can control the clock and wear opponents down as the game goes on.

But the Rebels may have a lot more to worry about when they kick off tonight.

“They’re satisfied with three or four yards a carry,” Sullivan said. “But they’ve spread it out a little more the last few weeks, and they’ve done a pretty good job with it. We’re mainly concerned with stopping them off tackle, with the little sweep play. This is going to be the toughest game we’ve played by far.”

Like most teams that already know they’ve secured a postseason spot, Lowndes would like to go in with a win.

But a loss won’t change the fact that the Rebels will play host to a first-round playoff game.

It certainly won’t change their goal of winning a state championship.

“It’d be good to go into the playoffs on a positive note,” Sullivan said. “If we don’t win, it’s not going to dampen the playoff deal. We’re going to be ready, win or lose.”