WOODVILLE — For the second straight week, the Wilkinson County Christian Academy Rams will face a team ranked in the top five in the Clarion Ledger’s Academy Class A poll, Glenbrook School.

Last Friday night, WCCA allowed nearly 400 yards rushing to No. 2 Huntington in a 38-0 loss to the Hounds in the MPSA District 6-A opener for both teams. Things don’t get any easier for the Rams this week as they will travel to Minden, La. to take on the Apaches, Friday at 7 p.m.

Glenbrook, 2-0 overall and 1-0 in district play, is coming off a hard-fought 27-19 win at home over the Class AA Riverfield Raiders. WCCA head coach Sam Byrd IV knows his team will have to play better on both sides of the ball to have a chance to upset the Apaches.

“This team throws the ball well. They run the ball well,” Byrd said. “They’re a little more spread out (on offense), more of a balanced attack. Huntington’s 80-20 (run to pass). Glenbrook’s about 60-40. They’re a veteran team. They always make the playoffs. They’re a well-coached team.”

Byrd noted that a key reason his team’s offense wasn’t able to move the ball effectively against Huntington was the offensive line had trouble blocking the Hounds’ defensive lineman.

“We had trouble with our line missing assignments. Blocking schemes weren’t sound. We’re going to adjust to it. I didn’t get us prepared enough for the defense we played last week.”

WCCA will also have to eliminate the turnovers that hurt its offense last Friday night. The Rams turned the ball over four times, including three interceptions by Cody Cullen.

Glenbrook’s offense is led by junior quarterback Jake Byrd, sophomore running back Jack Jiles and senior wide receiver Michael Ratcliff. WCCA’s special teams should also be concerned about Jiles when he returns kickoffs. After Riverfield took a 13-7 lead in the third quarter, Jiles returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown to give the Apaches the lead for good.

“The quarterback, he’s a great thrower and his receivers stay with him,” Byrd said. “Our defensive backs have to play the pass. This week, they have to be fully concerned about the pass at all times. They have a great kicking game.”

Glenbrook will use a 5-2 defense expect on passing downs when it goes to a four-front line and occasionally a cover-2 defense. “They play well against the run and the pass,” Byrd said.