LINDEN &8212; Four games into the regular season and Marengo Academy is already looking ahead at its playoff chances, which makes sense considering that the Alabama Independent School Association&8217;s regular football season is already half over.

When looking at the four games the team has played, the Longhorns appear to be sitting pretty in their area with a 2-2 record and a 2-1 area record. But in the third week of the ASIA season, Marengo Academy dropped an area game after Marion Academy didn&8217;t field a team and their reschedule was cancelled from lack of referee attendance, putting the team a game behind.

The team dropped its third game to Southern Academy after the pointless road trip but rebounded last Friday with a home win against Escambia Academy. The win was big for the Longhorns, who moved to .500 on the season and into positive percentages for area games, but the coaching staff knows there is still work needing done.

Little said the team&8217;s blocking was actually a bright spot in their 35-7 win over Escambia, but he noted that the week before that wasn&8217;t the case in their big area loss to No. 1 Southern Academy 42-0.

Little said, after first blood was drawn, his group didn&8217;t look back. He said his offensive line and tight ends picked up their blocks, running backs ran hard, and his defense came out and held their own on the way to the victory. He said now the group needs to build on the momentum by continuing to focus on blocks and angles &8212; especially heading into their next region game.

Little said, however, blocking will be a particular focus for the offense, as Wilcox Academy&8217;s unit runs out of multiple defensive formations.

On offense, Little said his group is looking at defending an I-formation and Shotgun-spread formation oriented multiple-formation offense. He said Wilcox runs about 60 percent of the time but can also open up an air threat.

Little said a win will put his group in a better position for its remaining area games. Following homecoming, his team will head on the road to Patrician Academy, who is faring well this year, and then host Jackson Academy to finish off their area games.