The Goshen Eagles lost last week in a fashion they are not proud of, and they are looking to respond to their two-game losing streak in the opening round of the playoffs.

The trip will be their first playoff game since 2001. The Eagles (5-5) are traveling four hours to face Pickens County (9-1), and the task of taming the Tornados will not be an easy one.

“We’ve had a good week of practice,” Goshen head coach Joe Thornton said. “We just didn’t come ready to play last week. We didn’t play well mentally or physically.”

The Goshen defense will have its hands full trying to stop the Tony Franklin offensive system that the Tornados run.

Defensively the Tornados show a 4-3, and Thornton believes it is probably one of the best defenses the Eagles have faced.

“They have a lot of team speed and they all run to the ball,” Thornton said. “Offensively they have probably the best five skill players we’ve played.”

One of the five Thornton spoke of is a wide receiver that has committed to play for what is currently the best college football team in the nation, Alabama.

The Tornados lost their first game of the season, but they responded by winning nine straight and claiming a region crown.

While Goshen may not have a region title or nine straight wins, they do match up in an area that is vital to any football team.

Depth.

The Eagles and the Tornados dress about the same amount of players.

The Tornados are another small team, but they are very successful with the 20 players they do have.

“We’re going to definitely have to play our A game,” Thornton said. “This will be a big game for us if we can run the ball well.”

Goshen and the Tornados showdown is set for 7 p.m.