Chilton County High School’s 2015 football squad is a much different one than last year, when the Tigers limped to a 2-8 record, including several close losses.

Anyone who has watched the Tigers find a way to defeat Sylacauga in the season opener or blow out rival Jemison knows CCHS fields a talented team this season.

However, after two region games, Chilton sits at 0-2, in the same position as last year.

In order to avoid a similar fate as last year, when CCHS was out of the playoff picture mid-way through the season, the Tigers need to find a way to win this week.

Chelsea (2-1 overall and 1-0 in Class 6A, Region 3 play), visits Tiger Stadium for a game beginning at 7 p.m. Friday.

If Chilton falls, the Tigers would be 0-3 halfway through region play, and almost certainly on the outside looking in at teams with a realistic shot at the playoffs.

After Chelsea and a visit from non-region foe Marbury, the Tigers close region play with road games at Valley and Benjamin Russell and a home game against Opelika, which is the current leader in the region standings.

The Tigers have gone in the wrong direction since starting the season 2-0, with a two-point loss to Pell City followed by last week’s 42-7 loss at Oxford.

Chelsea, meanwhile, has been impressive, following a season-opening 21-16 win over Briarwood with dominant victories over Southside Gadsden (43-10) and Valley (48-3).

In last year’s game, which was Chelsea’s homecoming, the Tigers got on the scoreboard first but then allowed the hosts to score 42 unanswered points as they were unable to stop Chelsea’s rushing attack.

Chilton County will try to do better this year and prevent their playoff hopes from slipping away.

ALSO THIS WEEK

•Billingsley at Verbena*

•Loachapoka at Isabella*

•Calera at Jemison*

•Maplesville at Linden*

•Holy Spirit at Thorsby*^

* — region game

^ — homecoming

–All games begin at 7 p.m.