Sumrall bounced back with a dominant 34-0 win over rival Purvis last week.
This week the Bobcats will take on Lawrence County (5-3, 1-1), which comes off a 47-20 win over Forrest County Agricultural.
"We think they are really good," Sumrall coach Shannon White said. "They have got a lot of size and speed. It'll certainly be a challenge for our guys. I think it's two good teams playing for sure. We'll have to have a great week of preparation, that's for sure. They offer a lot of problems defensively. Offensively they run the Wing-T, but they have some fast running backs and are really good up front. That's always a problem if you don't take care of the gaps."
The Cougars are the third Wing-T offense Sumrall has seen this season, with Pearl River Central being the previous two teams. According to White, the Wing-T will be a typical sight for the Bobcats since every team they will face runs a version of that offense for the rest of the season.
"We see it a lot (the Wing-T) through the year," White said. "Every game from here on out is the Wing-T or a version of it. It's a Wing-T district for sure, and something we spend a lot of time on defending. I think our guys know how to adjust to things. Our kids recognize formations well. You have to get lined up and then take care of the gaps. Getting lined up is big because (Lawrence County) gives you a ton of formations."
This season Lawrence County has averaged 28 points per game. The Cougars' top two sources of production on offense are Tommy Broomfield and Ahmad Hardy. Broomfield has rushed for a team-leading 471 yards and six touchdowns on 59 carries, while Hardy has run for 379 yards and five touchdowns on 43 carries.
"That's their fullback and tailback," White said. "They hit you in all of the gaps. They'll hit you up the middle with traps, off tackle with the buck sweep, and outside with the speed gaps. They force you to defend the width of the defense. They have got the speed, that if you do it wrong, they can go the distance. It's a really good team. Anytime you see a team that has speed, it's a concern. Then you add size to it, and it becomes a little more difficult."
Defensively, Lawrence County has held teams to 24 points per game this season. According to White, the Cougars' defense is similar to Columbia as they feature a large defensive line that brings much pressure and a speedy secondary.
"They have a big (defensive) front," White said. "In many ways, they are like Columbia. They have big kids up front, and everyone behind them can run. Their edge pressure is hard to deal with. You have to be able to handle pressure in the run and pass game. They'll tackle your backs in the backfield and your quarterback in the backfield. It's hard to beat them deep. It's a challenging week for us, and we hope to be up to the challenge."
