Last week the Goshen Eagles did exactly what they had to do to secure a berth in the 2015 playoffs: win. This week the Eagles close out the regular season as they travel to play the Brantley Bulldogs.

The Eagles (4-3, 4-5) defeated the Zion Chapel Rebels 48-3. This week coach Bart Snyder and the Eagles hope to remain focused.

“We have been a little sluggish this week,” Snyder said. “We did clinch last week, and that is a exciting.”

Snyder’s goal is for the players to continue to improve at every practice. The mindset from the first day of summer camp to Tuesday afternoon has not changed.

“Of course its going to be a little different, because (this game is) out of conference, but it’s Brantley,” Snyder said. “We need to keep these kids’ minds focused on things. We just want to continue to get better. That was our goal from the beginning of the year. We want to have the right work ethic and attitude and always be improving ourselves to get better.”

It’s every coach’s dream for the players to be playing their best ball at the end of the season. Many times the champions are determined not by their overall record but who is playing the best football heading into the playoffs.

The Eagles have won their last three games against Central Hayneville, Highland Home and Zion Chapel by a combined score of 127-3 and has averaged 42 points per game. Before the three-game the stretch, the Eagles had lost five of their first six games.

“We are making sure that we are playing mistake-free football,” Snyder said. “We are making sure to put points on the board. Last week coach (Bradley) Bowers (Zion Chapel) had a good gameplan and they did a good job, but our guys executed extremely well.”

Brantley (5-1, 7-2) comes into Friday’s contest on a roll. After losing two of their first three games the Bulldogs have rattled off six straight wins and like Goshen have already secured a spot in the playoffs.

They are led by quarterback Jacob Free who has helped lead the Bulldogs offensively by averaging 35 points per game.

“They have Jacob Free who is a Division 1 quarterback (prospect),” Snyder said. “He has all the potential in the world to be good. Having to play him should be something that our defense is excited about, because they get to showcase how good they can be.”

Even though this final game wraps up the regular season and the Eagles have their sights set on the post season, there will be no taking it easy for the Eagles. Snyder will treat this like a normal game.

“This is a confidence builder and a possible statement for what we can be,” Snyder said. “We take every game like its the first one. We are going to be playing.”

The Eagles and Bulldogs will kick off Friday evening at 7 p.m. at Brantley Field.