LINDEN &8212; A No. 3 seed in a good region is nothing to scoff at. Especially when that No. 3 seed&8217;s only losses in their region were to the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, both of which are in the Top 10 of 2A in the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

A tricky No. 3 seed on the road is what Linden High School head coach Andro Williams is having to prepare for this week, with Ariton High School.

Along with region losses to two teams, the Purple Cats of Ariton also fell to two 2A teams, who also reside in the Top 10 of their division, to start the season 1-4. Three of those four losses were decided by eight or less points, and the Cats finished the season with a five-game winning streak.

A lot of the team&8217;s adversity is paralleled in that of Linden, whose losses have also come from teams higher up in their region (Sweet Water) and in division (6A Fairhope). Williams said the teams have a similar style after Ariton adjusted to what worked and got rid of what didn&8217;t from early in their season.

But Williams doesn&8217;t deny that his team does much of the same &8212; shrugging off razzle-dazzle plays for a pop-you-in-the-face running game. With both groups clinging to a formula of overpowering opponents, Williams said the game is going to come down to what he has preached to his team all season.

Williams said in the end, even with the first round of the playoffs at home against a lower seed, the game is going to come down to desire.