In a season where each game carries immense meaning, the Cass High football team began its year nicely, running away from county rival, and region foe, Woodland in a 42-12 triumph.

But, as important as that game may have been for the Colonels, it won't be any more important than this week's home game against Rome, next Friday's home game with Johns Creek or any of Cass' remaining games.

"Every week is a region game," Colonels' coach Rick Casko said. "Every game has (playoff) implications ... It's so important to get out to a good start, plus it helps team confidence as well."

However, Casko said, Cass isn't getting too caught up in what it did the previous week or might do in the weeks to come. It is focused on each week's opponent, meaning the Colonels are presently locked in on the Wolves.

"We are certainly not in a position to (look ahead)," Casko added.

The Colonels will be cautious not to do so against Rome, a team they nearly beat a season ago before bowing to the Wolves, 27-20.

"They're very quick," Casko said of the Wolves, who beat Johns Creek 10-0 in their season opener. "Rome is always talented and very physical."

And while the Wolves are not as big or experienced as they typically are, they do bring a history of success into any game.

"They bring the Rome tradition with them when they come (to play)," Casko said.

Despite its home-opening win, first-year Wolves' coach Franco Perkins knows his youthful team will need continuous improvement.

"We just don't have a lot of playing experience," said Perkins, a former defensive coordinator who has been at the school for 13 years. "We think as the season goes on we'll get better with playing time. ... Looking at the film, a lot of it is just due to lack of Friday night game experience."

Something else the Rome coach gleaned from watching film is the explosive nature of the team his Wolves will face Friday night at Earl Cunningham Stadium.

"We looked at Cass and they have some tremendous athletes," Perkins said. "They definitely got some big threats offensively. I think their running back and quarterback (Michael Sanders and Elijah Windom, respectively) are two of the best in the region, and I feel like they got four receivers that are good as well."

In their 30-point win over the Wildcats last week, Cass wide receiver Jay Stephens lit Woodland up for 146 yards and three touchdowns on only three receptions.

"They excel at the big play," Perkins added. "We just want to keep their offense off the field because they are explosive."

Casko said against Woodland the Colonels threw the ball since the Wildcats were daring Windom to beat them.

In its scrimmage game against Adairsville, though, his team took advantage of the running game to the tune of 299 yards on 39 carries.

"I really feel like we're a balanced team," Casko said. "Our line stepped up and gave him (Windom) time to throw. ... If you want to take one thing away from us, we can attack you with something else."

When the Colonels face the Wolves, they will add a few wrinkles.

"There's a few different things that we'll do against Rome that we didn't do against Woodland," Casko said.

The Cass coach felt his team played well in all phases of the game -- offense, defense and special teams, where Tarris Batiste had 52- and 35-yard returns as well as a 63-yard punt return for a TD.

"That's what we got to do is keep those things working together," Casko said.

The offense didn't put the defense in bad situations and vice versa.

"Our defense put us in good situations," Casko added.

As well as the Colonels played, they can still play better, a testament for any team this time of year.

"We need to play better than we did the first week," Casko said. "We got to keep them from the big plays. ... We did some good things last week, but we watched film and we got some things to work on."

The Wolves and Colonels kick off at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Cass.