West Limestone got a lesson in focus last week in a 27-7 victory over Elkmont. The Wildcats didn’t play up to coach Shelby Davis’ expectations in the first half and went into halftime trailing the Red Devils 7-0.

The fact that the Wildcats regrouped at halftime and came back to score the final 27 points of the game gives Davis some hope that they can play that way the entire game when they take on Central-Florence in a crucial Class 4A, Region 8 game Friday night.

“If we come out and play from the get-go like we did in the second half (against Elkmont), we’re not a bad football team,” Davis said. “We’ve got to make sure we come out focused and ready to play from the opening kickoff.”

It’s early in the season, but West Limestone (2-1 overall, 1-0 region) can take a huge step toward a playoff berth with a win over Central. The top four teams in the seven-team region make the playoffs, and a win over Central would potentially mean West would need only one more region win to clinch a spot.

“One of our goals before the season was to make the playoffs,” Davis said. “We feel like (Central) is a team we need to beat in order to get to the playoffs.”

Central comes into the game with a 1-3 overall record and an 0-2 record in Region 8. The Wildcats have dropped three consecutive games after defeating Class 2A Colbert County in their season opener, losing 21-7 to Haleyville, 48-7 to Brooks and 35-14 to Deshler.

“They are a wing-T (offensive) style team,” Davis said. “They’re not very big, but they get after it and play hard.”

Davis said Central’s lack of size could be a difference, especially with the size of West Limestone’s offensive line. He said they will be looking to use that size advantage and run the ball with their stable of running backs, including senior Nick Martindale, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the Wildcats’ three games.

“I think our size up front is an advantage,” Davis said. “If those guys (on the offensive line) will execute and play hard, I think we’ll be able to run the football and control the game offensively.”

But Davis knows one thing for sure; his team can’t afford to come out unfocused like it did last week against Elkmont.

“There is not another team on our schedule we can afford to do that with,” Davis said. “We’ll dig ourselves a hole we won’t be able to get out of. When we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing we’re a good football team, but it’s consistently doing the right things, play in and play out, that will make the difference.”