The Unaka Rangers are expecting a fast-paced challenge from the Eagles when they head over to Oakdale tonight for some Region 1-1A action.

“They hurry up, and run a no-huddle offense,” said Unaka head coach Steven McKinnney.  “What they do, they do it very well. They’ve got very good receivers, and they run good routes. And they throw it all over the field.”

The Eagles (3-4, 1-1 Conference) are a team with some momentum as they head into Friday’s contest on a three-game winning streak. Last week, the Eagles, using an all-out ground assault, handily defeated the Sunbright Tigers, 58-13. The Eagles had two 100-yard rushers in running backs Taylor Braddock and Dakota

Turner. Oakdale amassed 506 total yards against the Tigers, with four Eagle rushers combining for 324 yards.

“They have got very good skill people,” McKinney said. “I think they return all of their offensive linemen from last year, and they have some really good running backs.”

The Rangers (1-6, Conference 1-1) will be coming out of a bye week, which gave Unaka some time to get healthy. Unaka senior QB Blake King, who had missed the Rangers’ game against Cloudland due to an injury, is back and ready to go. The quarterback has racked up more than 800 yards passing this season while connecting for 11 touchdowns. With King back, the Rangers are looking to utilize their passing game against the Eagles.

“That helps our passing game a little bit getting him back,” McKinney said about King. “We have changed some things with our receivers and stuff, and hopefully we can throw it a little bit.”

Unaka’s most productive receiver this season has been Blake Isaacs, who has more than 200 yards receiving. Isaacs is backed up by Rangers Devon Jarrett, who has roughly 240 yards receiving.

On the ground, the Rangers are paced by Hunter Bentley with close to 200 yards of rushing.

The Rangers have only two games left in conference play this season, and that includes Oakdale this week and Hancock next Friday. If Unaka tops both Oakdale and Hancock, the Rangers will be locked into second place in Region 1-1A ball, ensuring them a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

“It would put us in second if we beat Oakdale and Hancock,” McKinney said.  “If you are No. 2, you have a playoff game at home. If we fall to No. 4, we are looking at Greenback or Coalfield. That region down there is very good. They have four or five teams down there that have a chance of going on down the road. Greenback is good every year.”

“We just take our chances with who we draw,” McKinney added. “We just have to take care of business here first.”

Right now, the Rangers have one goal in mind, and that is to finish strong, said McKinney.

“We have been beaten up a little bit, and we have had a lot of injuries,” Mckinney said. “I stress to these guys every day that we need to learn how to finish strong. And hopefully, we can.”

Tonight’s kickoff is set for 7 p.m.