Parkers Chapel to take on Bearden in conference showdown Friday.
A year ago, Parkers Chapel sat in this exact spot heading into their game with Bearden.
Owners of a 4-1 overall record with a 1-0 record in the 8-2A after topping Woodlawn, the Trojans fell 44-14 at Bearden and went winless the rest of the season.
Now the Trojans aim to not have history repeat itself, as Parkers Chapel (4-1, 1-1) and Bearden (3-2, 1-1) renew acquaintances Friday night at Victor Nipper Stadium in an 8-2A showdown.
Game time is set for 7 p.m. The Bears had an unexpected bye week when Hermitage forfeited their game last week, and it could turn out to be a major positive considering how injury-riddled Bearden has been through the first half of the season.
But when asked about Bearden, the first name Parkers Chapel coach Jacob Midyett said was Tyler Berry, the Bears' quarterback.
A senior, Berry leads the Bears in rushing with 436 yards along with six touchdowns.
In the Bears' win over Hector, Berry rushed for 215 yards and two scores.
Berry has also thrown for 542 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 54 percent of his passes.
Given the threat Berry poses, Midyett said the senior is the most versatile quarterback he has seen this year, and he could be the best quarterback the Trojans see all year.
"He's very impressive," Midyett said. "He's very athletic and moves well. He has a great arm. They try to get him the ball as many times as they can. They have a very good running back and a receiver that can go up and get the ball, but I think they start and end with Berry.
"He'll probably be the best one we face. Him and (Jace) Garcia at Harmony Grove are back and forth on who might be the best, but watching from what I've seen of Berry so far, it's going to be tough for Garcia to beat him, I think."
The Trojans will also likely have an angry Bears squad visiting.
Prior to their bye week, the Bears were beaten soundly at Rison, managing just 144 yards of total offense, and Midyett believes that getting off to a good start will be a major factor for his squad.
"We came out against Hampton with a really good drive to start, but we had a hiccup," Midyett said. "Then we had another hiccup, so before we really got going offensively, we're down 14-0, and
you can't do that no matter who you're playing. If you don't get off to a good start, everyone starts pressing a little bit and the playsheet gets a little tighter. A big start is something we've got to have."
Of course, the Bears' bye week could play into the Trojans' favor depending if the visitors show any signs of rust from being idle.
"I think that will be determined early in the game," Midyett said.
"If we can execute early and get them on the ropes a little bit, that week off will be to our advantage because they'll be a little rusty, but if we let them come out and jump on us, they're going to be fresh and get that momentum and be excited to play."
Bearden is renown for having defenses that give no quarter, and while the Bears have surrendered 153 points, those games have come against Junction City, Hector, Gurdon and Rison, who have a combined record of 16-4.
"Defensively, their linebackers are very aggressive and they look to be pretty big," Midyett said. "They've always got very good ones, whether it's Rickey Brown when I played, or the ones they've got now.
"It seems like they've got a whole new group every time you watch them on film, but they don't miss a beat.
"They seem to be very deep there, and they're well-coached. They do a really good job."
The series between the Bears and Trojans has been one-sided with the Bears winning eight of the nine meetings with Bearden's 44-20 win back in 2014 serving as their smallest margin of victory.
One thing Midyett has made a focal point to his team is to not be intimidated by the Bears and their success.
"We touched on that on Monday," Midyett said. "That's a bad mentality that we've had here ever since we started football.
"It's going to take a couple of times of being successful, but like I told the group, we're eventually going to get over that hump.
"I want it to be this group, but they've got to want to be this group. They've got to execute and have a good week of practice.
"We've got to come out on Friday and be able to execute what we're trying to do.
"We can play against anybody. We're capable. We have the athletes and the kids to do it, they just have to come out and do it."
Parkers Chapel bounced back with aplomb after falling to Hampton by rolling to a road win at Woodlawn last week, and Midyett was pleased his team kept its focus with Bearden looming on the schedule.
"We were able to stay locked in pretty well," Midyett said.
"They had a small group, and I think it could've easily been one of those things we overlooked, but we put it on them early and got out to a big lead before they ended up scoring. I was impressed with our focus."
Senior De’Qua Henderson caught two touchdown passes and returned an interception for a touchdown last week, and Midyett said he has helped shoulder the load in the Trojans' passing attack.
"He's done a great job of being the intermediate guy," Midyett said.
"Canon (Morgan) really stretches the defense a lot, and a lot of times because of that, De’Qua is able to get open on the intermediate routes and be able to make a catch, make a move, make somebody miss and really get going.
"He really hasn't had a bad game as far as drops, and I don't remember him dropping one at all.
"He's been a sure-handed guy for us, one that we try to get the ball to on our jet sweeps. He's been great.
"He's played defense well. He's one of corners. He's really been able to shore up one side of the ball for us. We couldn't ask him to do much more than he's given us."
Another key member of the Trojans' 4-1 start has been senior linebacker Brendan Winchester, who is the Trojans' leading tackler despite missing the Spring Hill game due to an injury.
"He's done a great job," Midyett said. "He's probably a little slight to be at linebacker, but he reads well and he has good instincts.
"He's aggressive, and he fills gaps. He's able to go sideline to sideline because of his athleticism. He's done a great job for us."
If the Trojans are to prevail, Midyett said his team must continue to stay focused.
"We've got to have the best week of practice that we've had," Midyett said.
"We keep saying the same things, but we haven't put a whole week together yet, and it showed against Hampton.
"If we don't put a whole week together again, it will show on Friday night.
"We told the kids that today is the most important day, and then tomorrow is the most important day, and we've got to be able to lock in each day and get better.
"If we don't do that, then we won't be able to execute on Friday."