This week’s Class 7A, Region 4 matchup between Bob Jones and No. 10 Austin has major playoff implications.

The Patriots got off to a slow start this season, losing their first three games but have won their last four and are tied for the top spot in the region with James Clemens. The Jets own the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Austin (6-2, 3-2) is coming off a huge 28-7 win over James Clemens in which they held the Jets, who were averaging 28 points a game, to only one score. Black Bears head coach Jeremy Perkins is excited for his team and the challenge that a tough physical squad like Bob Jones presents.

“This is going to be a hard fought, four-quarter game and the team that makes more plays and less mistakes is going to win the ball game,” he said. “They are a good football team, and they are worthy of being in the hunt for hosting a playoff game.”

Austin’s defense ranks fourth in 7A, giving up only 11.8 points a game. The Black Bears are led by senior defensive lineman Achilles Woods (6-4, 250) and junior Cortavious Mason (5-10, 215). Mason leads the team with 64 tackles and four sacks followed by Woods with 54 tackles and nine sacks.

On offense, Austin will continue to use a two-quarterback system with senior Judd Bailey and junior J.L Davis. Perkins said he has confidence in both to lead the team. Each has shown they can produce when the game is on the line.

Bailey is 42-of-67 for 749 yards and six touchdowns, while Davis is 39-of-75 for 763 yards and six touchdowns. They will look to get the ball in the hands of senior Nick Crayton (6-3, 213) to take advantage of his size and strength. The Black Bear offense will also rely on running backs Gavin Fuqua and Kenneth Joshua to keep the Patriot defense off balance.

Bob Jones started the season in transition after losing their starting quarterback Dylan Willingham and his backup, sophomore Reese Brazeal, to injuries but has settled on sophomore Sheldon Graham.

“Sheldon has done a great job under the situation handling the moment and is just a poised young man, and I couldn’t be happier with him,” Bob Jones coach Kelvis White said. “He is really a year ahead of schedule. We would have never thought he would be in this situation as a tenth grader. He has gained valuable experience that will pay off in the future.”

Graham was able to lead the team 80 yards in final 1:46 for the winning score in beating the Florence 29-25. The Patriots have been able to impose their will on opposing defenses with senior running back Ty Washington (5-10, 240), who has gained 1,002 yards and 14 touchdowns through seven games.

During the four-game winning streak, Bob Jones has beaten three teams that are also fighting for playoff berths in Florence, Huntsville and Sparkman. In their 31-13 win over Sparkman, the Patriots had two backs rush for more than 100 yards in Washington (159, TD) and KJ Jackson (112, TD).

The Patriot defense was able to hold the Senators, who were averaging more than 42 points a game, to 29 points below their season average. Sophomore linebacker Romeo Washington led the Patriots defensive effort with 12 tackles and one sack.

White believes in his team and knows their early tough schedule should pay dividends as they march toward the playoffs

“I think we are playing our best football right now, but so is Austin,” he said. “I think in those early tough football games, we were able to see some things that we needed to change because of some injuries, and we made some changes. But, at the end of the day, I think it made us a better football team.”

Bob Jones’ three losses to begin the season were to 6A No. 4 Muscle Shoals, 6A Athens (5-2) and city rival James Clemens.

Bob Jones will look to end a three-game skid against Austin, which has won eight of the last 10 games. Last year, the Black Bears won a close 28-26 contest blocking two extra points to secure the win.