DIXONS MILLS &8212; The Panthers are about to hit the road. Head coach Scottie Jones knows the next two games are going to test his group&8217;s mettle.

Marengo High School is sitting at 4-1 so far this season, with their only loss coming on the road against No. 15 J.U. Blacksher High School &8212; one of the two road games they have played. Of course, the other road game was an 18-0 shutout at Coffeeville High School.

Coming up the group travels to Fruitdale High School and then follows that game with a trip to the stadium of No. 8 Millry High School. Jones knows what his group needs to work on and what will carry the group through the games.

Along with holding opponent&8217;s offenses so far this season, Jones&8217; defense has been contributing to the scoreboard, which has allowed the offense to coast. The special teams have also been a contributor to the scoreboard for the Panthers, but Jones isn&8217;t quite as satisfied with the group as he is with the defense.

Focusing on his first opponent in the stretch at this week&8217;s practices, Jones has an idea of what his team is facing. He said he is coming up against the most efficient spread offense his team has seen this season in Fruitdale.

Jones said he is expecting a five-man front from the Pirates for his offense to contend with. To throw Fruitdale off, he said his group would work on spreading the field out with their offensive play calling.