The shoe has definitely been on the other foot for Cass High this football season, as it sometimes finds itself sporting the better of the won-loss records in its Friday night games.

That will be true tonight when Cass visits Sequoyah: the Colonels will be hoping to improve on their 2-1 record in Region 7-AAAA while the Chiefs will be pulling out the stops to raise their 1-2 record in the same region.

Cass head coach Rick Casko said despite the Chiefs' less-than-stellar record, the Colonels -- who would match last year's three victories with a win tonight -- know they will have their hands full on the gridiron.

The Chiefs have been particularly tough the past two years, as Sequoyah -- coached by Jim Teter -- defeated Cass 14-6 a year ago and 20-0 the previous year.

"They went deep in the playoffs two years ago and last year they just missed going," Casko said.

He said Cass -- which went 3-7 with its wins coming its last three games -- was only a break or two away from a win last year and knows it could be in that same position at some point tonight.

"Last year the game could have changed with just one play," Casko said. "That's what you play the game for, to be able to make that one play when it comes up."

He said the intensity has been there at the practices from his senior-laden team.

Casko said Sequoyah -- like Cass -- has several games under its belt and that has made it better.

"Early in the year, you find out what some of your problems are and you correct them," he said.

Cass will see some familiar faces on the gridiron, starting at the Chiefs' quarterback, where Ben Rogers is returning for his third year along with a strong receiving corps.

Casko said the plays will be familiar, too.

"They are a Wing T team," he said. "They run and they are good at it."

The Chiefs' passing attack has earned respect as well, which means the Colonel defense will be tested all over the field.

"They do what they do. They have a running style of offense and can throw," he said. "Their defense is solid, too."

The Chiefs also picked up some momentum with their 27-14 defeat of Northwest Whitfield, helping to ease the bitter taste of 17-13 and 24-21 losses to Creekview and Johns Creek, respectively.

"Creekview is just a tough opponent and Johns Creek had some breaks go their way," Casko said.

Sequoyah and Northwest both had entered the season with playoff hopes and the win helped the Chiefs get theirs back on track -- but it now must make a victory run through the region, with Cass next up in its sights.

Casko said with so many region games on the schedule -- 10 -- the possibility of having a good season is still realistic for both teams in tonight's game as well as other teams in the region.

"They could go 8-2 and we could go 9-1," he said, noting there's no lack of incentives for practicing at this point.

Sequoyah is averaging 20 points a game offensively and giving up 18 points.

Cass, which is averaging 28 points a game and giving up 18 points, has been improving as well.

"(Quarterback) Elijah (Windom) just gets better," Casko said.

He said play has been spirited with players stepping up when they have the challenge or opportunity.

"Our leading tacklers have been different each week," Casko said. "Five offensive players have scored for us, so the team aspect has been good."

Cass has not only spread the scoring around but it is focusing offensively on whatever the other teams give it.

"We passed 42 times in one game and 19 in another," he said. "We're not all running or passing. When we face different defenses, we try to do that they are giving us."

He said tonight's game also finds the Colonels in a healthy situation, comparatively speaking.

"We're getting a couple of receivers back but we still have a few people out," he said. "Still, we're as healthy as we've been since the season started. We feel good about that."

Game time is at 7:30 p.m.