It’s a new season in Goshen as the Eagles get set to embark on a journey they hope ends with a state championship.

Their journey will begin with a first round matchup with Thorsby at Eagles Stadium in Goshen.

“It’s always exciting,” Goshen head coach Bart Snyder said. “Anytime you get the opportunity to go one step further than the regular season, it’s an exciting thing. We are excited about it. Our players are, of course, and our fans. It’s always exciting to be in the playoffs.”

The Eagles finished the season with a 7-3 record. They began the season with five straight wins, defeating fellow playoff teams Ariton, New Brockton and Zion Chapel along the way. The Eagles fell in their first game of the season to then-number-two in the state Luverne, 27-26. After two straight wins against Calhoun and Central Hayneville, the Eagles dropped their final two games.

“We started the season off the way anyone would want to,” Snyder said. “We didn’t lose until game six against a very good Luverne team. We won a couple of games and then kind of got off track and lost two games.”

The Eagles’ final loss came against Brantley last week 47-14. Since then, the Eagles got back to work, trying to find the spark they had early in the season.

“We are going to get focused,” Snyder said. “We had a good week so far and we hope to get this new season off the way we started the regular season. If we can do that and pick up some confidence, win five games like we did before, we’ll be some happy people in Goshen.”

The Eagles finished as the number two seed in Region 3 behind Luverne. Because they finished in the top two, they are able to host an opening round game.

“It’s always better to be at home than having to travel,” Snyder said. “Eventually you have to travel, but it’s a lot easier on you being in a comfortable place.”

The Eagles were without a few key players in last week’s game. Minus a few players, Snyder believes his team will be close to full go on Friday night.

“We’ll still be short a couple, but other than that we will be OK,” Snyder said.

The Rebels finished as the third seed in Region 4 this season. They finished with a 6-4 record. They finished the season on a three-game winning streak, beating schools by scores of 42-14, 56-20 and 42-13.

“Thorsby is a very athletic team,” Snyder said. “They’re well-coached. Coach Davis does a great job with them up there. They do a good job. They’re a very fundamentally sound football team.”

The Eagles knocked off the Rebels 42-14 in the second round of the playoffs in 2017.