Chilton County High School’s 15-7 win over John Carroll, combined with Talladega’s loss to Sylacauga, clinched a playoff berth for CCHS.

No matter the result of this week’s game against Ramsay, the Tigers will finish fourth in the Class 5A, Region 4 standings. The top four teams in each region advance to the state playoffs.

That’s the good news for CCHS. The bad news is that as a No. 4 seed, the Tigers will visit a region champion in the first round of the playoffs.

The team’s season as a whole also includes good and bad.

The bad is that the Tigers are still struggling with penalties and turnovers. Chilton committed 12 infractions for a loss of 85 yards, threw two interceptions and lost three fumbles.

“The penalties killed us,” coach Donnie Hand said. “Watching the film, we played pretty good on offense. It was just that every time we had a big gain, we held or moved (before the snap). There was always something that would kill the drive.”

The good news is that there are several reasons to believe the Tigers are improving at the most critical time of the year to do so.

First, there was the return of senior running back Myric Good from a preseason foot injury.

Good rushed 16 times for 67 yards in his first full game this season.

“He actually looked like the old Myric for the first time,” Hand said and added that Good’s hard work to return has been an inspiration to his teammates. “Everybody on the team, they see how hard he’s worked. He could have easily said it’s not worth it, but he’s been busting his butt to get back.”

Then there are a couple of defenders who didn’t play football last year but are coming into their own as starters this season.

Senior defensive end Beau Waid was recognized as the Chilton County area’s top player after Week 4 of the season. He posted 14 tackles and two sacks against John Carroll.

Waid was helped by junior Colten Scott, who registered 13 tackles, nine of which were solo.

Scott started the season as a backup at middle linebacker, but as Trenton Bishop began devoting more time to his quarterback duties, Scott has taken on a more regular role.

“He keeps getting better and better every week,” Hand said.

Scott, Waid and the rest of the CCHS defense combined to limit John Carroll to minus-five rushing yards. Add in a couple of late interceptions by Corbin Bice and Cade Hatch, and you have the ingredients for an important win.