FAYETTE — The early season schedule is behind teams in Region 7-3A, and two local teams that started region play on opposite ends of the spectrum last week will face off this week in Fayette.

Jefferson County High School traveled to Crystal Springs last week and came home with a 16-0 win in its first region game.

Wilkinson County dropped a close game at home against Franklin County, 22-18, to fall to 0-1 in region play.

Jefferson County coach James Herrington said the win was big for his team, who had lost five-straight games going into the game with Crystal Springs.

“In a district as tough as the one we are in, every win is a big win,” he said. “It’s definitely good to start off with a win after being on a little skid. To shut them out and close the game out with a win was big.”

On the other side, Wilkinson County coach Kenneth Brown said this week’s game would be huge for his team to rebound.

“It’s a game we obviously need to win to put us back where we should be,” he said. “We don’t want to open up district 0-2, so if we can get a win it would be a plus for us to put us back in contention.”

Brown said his team did what it needed to do against Franklin County from a physical standpoint, but his team lacked in the mental aspect of the game.

“Physically we matched them, and did what we expected with Franklin County,” he said. “But the game is also played mentally, and you can’t have drops (in focus), and that goes along with doing the right things and making the right decisions.”

Brown said his team would have to prepare for Jefferson County’s passing game this week.

“We have to prepare our defensive backfield and linebackers,” he said. “I think physically we’ll be OK, but on the mental side of it we can’t make mistakes and have to carry out assignments.”

Herrington said his team must understand that Wilkinson County will come into Friday’s game hungry for a win.

“With Wilkinson County’s loss to Franklin County we know they are going to come in with a do-or-die attitude, and we have to come in with the same attitude,” he said.

“They are big up front, and they are one of the bigger teams we face. They run the football well, and they look to run even when they spread out, so we have to focus on tackling, not giving up easy scores and taking care of the football on offense.”

Herrington said his team understands that despite the rough start in non-region games the Tigers can still accomplish every goal they set this season.

“Our goal from the beginning was to win Region 7, and we are in position to do so,” he said. “No one really controls that but us, and I feel we are in a good spot.”

Brown said his team is ready to try to respond to the adversity of starting 0-1 in the region.

“After talking to them in post-game (last week), I get that they are still into it,” Brown said. “We have a young group that has a lot of fight in them, and they will continue to get after it. They are up for the challenge.”

Jefferson County (2-5, 1-0) and Wilkinson County (3-3, 0-1) are scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. Friday in Fayette.