Chilton County High School’s football team on Friday faces perhaps its most difficult challenge yet on a schedule full of challenges.

The Tigers (3-4 overall, 0-4 region) host Class 6A No. 3 Opelika (8-0, 5-0) at 7 p.m. Friday at Tiger Stadium.

“If they’re not the best team in the state, they’re one of the best—without a shadow of a doubt,” CCHS coach Brian Bradford said.

But Bradford said the Tigers don’t focus on the opponent, no matter who it is.

“Being mentally prepared is our biggest challenge,” he said. “We’ve got to not be intimidated and play our game.

“We have to take care of ourself. We don’t spend a lot of time worrying about the opponents. We focus on things we can control. Execution, not having turnovers—those are things we can control.”

Chilton is coming off an open week that Bradford said has been beneficial.

“We got to heal up some guys that were still playing but beat up,” he said.

During bye weeks, coaching staffs walk a fine line between resting players and taking advantage of extra practices.

Bradford said CCHS used its extra time to go back over basics and correct some issues from earlier in the season.

The Tigers will need to be at their best Friday, and the road doesn’t get much smoother.

Next week, Chilton County visits sixth-ranked Benjamin Russell.

ALSO THIS WEEK

•Maplesville at A.L. Johnson*

•Jemison at Central-Tuscaloosa*

•Keith at Isabella

•Billingsley at Linden

•Notasulga at Verbena*

*-Region game

All games begin at 7 p.m.

FRIDAY NIGHT WEATHER

Temperatures forecasted to reach a high of 84 degrees Friday should fall into the low-70s or high-60s for the games, and could be even lower by the end of the game. Calm winds could pick up to 5-10 miles per hour in the afternoon but shouldn’t be significant.

REGION STANDINGS

Class 6A, Region 3

Opelika (5-0 region, 8-0 overall)

Benjamin Russell (3-1, 7-1)

Chelsea (2-2, 5-2)

Valley (2-2, 3-4)

Oxford (2-3, 3-5)

Pell City (1-3, 3-4)

Chilton Co. (0-4, 3-4)

Class 5A, Region 4

Demopolis (5-0, 6-1)

Dallas Co. (4-1, 5-2)

Helena (4-1, 5-2)

Calera (3-2, 5-2)

Sumter Central (2-3, 2-5)

Central Tuscaloosa (1-4, 3-4)

Jemison (0-5, 0-7)

Wilcox Central (0-5, 0-7)

Class 2A, Region 4

Fayetteville (4-0, 6-1)

Pickens Co. (4-0, 6-1)

Francis Marion (3-1, 3-4)

Thorsby (3-2, 4-4)

Holy Spirit (1-4, 1-7)

R.C. Hatch (0-4, 1-6)

Vincent (0-4, 0-7)

Class 1A, Region 3

Notasulga (3-0, 5-2)

Loachapoka (3-1, 4-3)

Verbena (2-2, 5-2)

Billingsley (2-2, 3-4)

Autaugaville (1-2, 4-3)

Isabella (0-4, 1-6)

Class 1A, Region 4

Maplesville (3-0, 6-1)

Linden (3-1, 4-2)

A.L. Johnson (1-1, 1-5)

Keith (1-3, 1-6)

Ellwood Christian (0-3, 3-4)