It will be a battle of the Tornadoes Friday night at Blair Field at R.H. Watkins Stadium when the Laurel (5-5) Golden Tornadoes host the Region 8-4A third place team Purvis (6-4) Tornadoes at the “Bricks” in the first round of the South State 4A playoffs.

Golden Tornado head coach Milton Smith believes once the playoffs are here, any team can win on any given night. “Once you get to the playoffs you are 0-0,” he said. “Any team can win on any given night.”

Purvis head coach Perry Wheat knows the character and tradition behind the “Bricks”. “When I was coach at Magee back in the 90s, I had the chance to coach there,” he said. “We’ve told our players about it, and they will know what to expect.”

Smith thinks because the Golden Tornados play in Region 5-4A it will give them an advantage. “This region is tough, even with Wayne County and West Jones coming out of it,” he said. “West Lauderdale ran the table this year, and you just had to come ready to play every night.”

Smith has already told his team they must play their best football of the season Friday night. “I’ve told the guys that Purvis will bring their A game when they come to the Bricks,” he said. “We just have to be ready to play sound football.”

Wheat believes the Golden Tornadoes will be one of the most athletic and quickest teams they will face this whole season. “The are a very athletic team. They have a lot of speed. Dontrelle Pruitt has a cannon for an arm, and their receiver Walter Smith does an excellent job of catching it.”

Smith believes there will be three key factors in Fridays’ game. “We are going to have to limit and create turnovers. We have to control the clock,” he said. “And we have to win the special teams battle.”

Wheat agreed with Smith. “We have to limit our turnovers. We have to limit the big plays,” he said. “And we have to drive the football down the field and score.”

The winner of Friday’s game will face the winner of the Mendenhall/Lawrence County game. Game time is set for 7 p.m.