After allowing only 38 yards and two completions to Tuscaloosa Academy’s vaunted passing game in last week’s loss, the Longhorn defense now sets its sights on derailing a balanced Bessemer assault.

“They like to line up with one tight (end) and run the football,” Marengo Academy head coach Jesse Little said of a 5-2 Bessemer squad.

However, the team that currently sits atop Region 2 in Class AAA is also capable of throwing the ball around. According to Little, BA threw more than 50 passes during last week’s 40-28 loss to Pike Liberal Arts.

In preparation for a the dual-threat offense, Little said his defense is spending the better part of its week preparing to see anything.

While the Longhorns were successful in grounding the Tuscaloosa Academy aerial attack last week, they struggled with slowing the ground game.

“We didn’t tackle on the run,” Little said of his team’s ineffectiveness against the rushing game.

Additionally, Little said his team’s inability to protect the football provided a significant stumbling block.

The Longhorns have clinched a playoff berth and have an outside shot to leapfrog to the third seed in the region. That accomplishment would require a Longhorn victory combined with a Kingwood upset of current No. 3 seed Morgan Academy.

The Longhorns round out their regular season next Friday when they pay a visit to Southern Academy.