Ardmore coach P.J. Wright thinks the Tigers’ off week came at the perfect time as the team prepares to play four consecutive Class 5A, Region 8 games that will determine its playoff fate.

Ardmore had last week off and used it to rest and recuperate before hosting Brewer Friday night in a region contest.

“Everybody needs time to take a breath,” Wright said. “It’s not that we stopped work, but we were able to catch our breath for a second. It was a good time (for an off week), right in the middle of the season. We play five games, take a quick break to catch our breath, and then get ready for the second half of the season. It was good for us, good for our kids, and good for our coaches as well.”

Halfway through the season, Ardmore has a 3-2 overall record and a 1-2 region record, but the team is still in the thick of the playoff race. The top four teams in the eight-team region will clinch playoff spots, and the next four weeks will determine if Ardmore is one of those four teams.

“We’re in the thick of it now,” Wright said. “With four straight region games, every game is so important. If you want to continue to play after week 10, every game is almost a must-win. Almost all the teams are in the same boat. Everyone is sitting at 1-2 or 2-1, except for Madison Academy, which is ahead sitting at 3-0.”

Ardmore starts its region grind with Brewer, which brings a 4-1 overall record and 2-1 region record into Friday’s game.

The Patriots own region victories over Arab (34-12) and Madison County (34-3), while suffering a 45-7 loss to Madison Academy.

Brewer is back in Class 5A after spending the previous four years in 6A, where they struggled to a 7-32 overall record.

“Now that Brewer has moved back down in classification to 5A, that’s where they belong,” Wright said. “They kind of got pushed around in 6A with their smaller (roster) numbers, but now they are competing against teams with similar numbers and doing well.”

Wright believes Brewer’s time in 6A, while not successful, has helped them now that they are in a lower classification.

“The speed of the game can be a little slower in 5A at times, but the level of opponent they’re used to playing is not the same as it is now, and you can see that,” Wright said. “Playing in that tough 6A region has definitely helped them.”

Brewer also has two lineman Wright is worried about, Jordan Flack and Hunter Youngblood. They will play on both the offensive and defensive line and will be a challenge for the Tigers.

“There is a reason that Division I schools are after them,” Wright said. “We’ll have to figure out our angles on how to get them blocked.”

Wright said the difference in Friday’s game could be the performance of Ardmore running back Chase Lay.

“For us to win, we need Chase Lay to have a good game,” he said. “We need him to continue to pound the ball and get positive yards. We rely on him a lot, and why would we not? We keep feeding the one that’s playing well, and he’s playing well.”