In each of the last five seasons, the Goshen Eagles have accomplished their pre-season goal of making the Alabama High School Athletic Association playoffs.

The Eagles know what it will take to make it six years in a row: beat Zion Chapel.

“Games are most definitely not played on paper,” said Goshen head coach Bart Snyder. “If that was the case, we might have won, and lost, some games we shouldn’t have in the past. We control our destiny. We win, and we are in. That is our Goal…to get the W.

The winless Rebels are the only team standing in the way of another playoff trip for the Eagles, but Snyder knows Zion Chapel won’t roll over for his team.

“They have nothing to lose,” Snyder said, “They have had a tough season down there, but Zion is a team that will never quit despite what the scoreboard says. We can’t just go down there and expect to ease to a win. We have to do our job, and play good football.”

Snyder has guided the Eagles to the playoffs in each of his four seasons at the helm, but has seen his fair share of close calls late in the year.

One of those close calls came last season against Zion Chapel.

The Eagles and Rebels traded lead all night long, including three lead changes in the final 90 seconds, before Goshen escaped with a wild 35-32 win.

“Last year was a game you will remember for a long tine,” Snyder said. “Both teams were playing for the playoffs, and left it all out there on the field. We were able to get some big plays late and get the win. We have to be able to do the same thing this week. We need momentum early and often.”

The Eagles and Rebels have meet 23 times in the past, with Goshen holding a commanding 17-6 lead in the all-time series.

Goshen has won six of the nine games since the series renewed in 2004.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Greene Memorial Stadium in Jack.