One of the county’s most intense rivalries will heat up again Friday night when Red Bay travels to Phil Campbell.

The visiting Tigers (7-0, 5-0) need one more win in region play to clinch the Class 2A, Region 8 title. The host Bobcats are eliminated from playoff contention, but would love to delay Red Bay’s celebration for one more week by upsetting the fifth-ranked Tigers.

It will be a tough test for the Bobcats, who are 2-5 overall and 1-4 in region play.

Red Bay leads the region in defense, allowing an average of 12.3 points per game. The Tiger offense is second in the region in offense, scoring an average of 29.7 points per game.

Both of those numbers are far from what Phil Campbell has been dealing with all season. The Bobcats are averaging 23.5 points per game, which could challenge the Red Bay defense. The Phil Campbell defense has struggled this year, giving up an average of 37.3 points per game.

In order for Phil Campbell to earn the upset — and keep rival Red Bay from celebrating a region title at Parrish Stadium — it will have to play its best game of the season.