DIXONS MILLS &8212; Normally, homecomings are a chance for a team to regroup against a lesser team. They are a chance for fans to celebrate the program, players and school whose colors they sport every Friday night.

Unfortunately for Marengo High School football players and their fans, tonight&8217;s homecoming match up is not your normal cakewalk &8212; it has implications. The Panthers are coming into the game 4-3 (3-3 in their region) and facing a must win game for any shot at the playoffs. Their opponent, McIntosh High School is 6-2 (5-1 in the region), with their only region loss coming to the No. 1 seed Millry.

Of course, Jones knows it isn&8217;t a likely upset, as run of the mill Fruitdale (3-5 season, 3-3 region with a win over the Panthers) would have to fall to second to last J.F. Shields (1-6 season, 1-4 region). Jones is trying to get his group back up for the game to turn around their two consecutive losses with consecutive wins to end the season.

Jones said to do so the group will have to stayed focused on their opponents, not the &8216;if&8217; factors relating to the post season. He said the group, which is not quite 100 percent healthy, is trying to get back and prepare for McIntosh.

Jones said his group will also shuffle some new faces into the backfield to get some new looks in the running game.