Isabella last year broke its 23-game losing streak in a big way: the Mustangs won not once but five times.

Then, just when everything starts looking up, a reclassification moved the Mustangs up to Class 2A and into Region 5, home to perennial powers American Christian, Fultondale and Pickens County High.

Lanny Jones’ team, most of which will look the same as last season, is undaunted because of an attitude it found last season somewhere along with all those wins.

“Our guys right now are carrying that attitude of they don’t want to lose,” Jones said. “That’s the biggest thing.”

The Mustangs showed tough competition won’t faze them with their performance in a preseason game at Northside on Aug. 21. Isabella defeated Class 4A Northside 21-0 and tied Class 5A Brookwood 7-7.

“We like our chances for sure,” Jones said about Isabella earning a playoff spot for the first time since 2003. “We feel like we can beat anybody, but, at the same time, if we don’t play like we’re supposed to, we can be beat by anybody.”