LINDEN — The Patriots have a clearer picture of the task in front of them as head coach Andro Williams has finalized the team’s 2010 schedule, a docket that includes only two of the teams LHS played in the regular season in 2008 or 2009.

With the move into Class 1A, Region 1, the Patriots will see a region slate that includes Fruitdale, Sweet Water, McIntosh, Coffeeville, Saint Luke’s, Marengo and fellow Region 3 transplant A.L. Johnson.

“It’s going to be tough either way you look at it, whether you’re at home or on the road,” Linden said of the region in which his team will compete. “That’s why we try to give ourselves a good game in week one right there with Central.”

Linden will open its season on the road when it visits Class 5A Central-Tuscaloosa.

“It’s a pretty big challenge for us to have to travel to a 5A school. That’s what we need early,” Williams said. “We need to be put in situations where we don’t take a week off early. We want to give ourselves an opportunity to look at things and try to correct things.”

The Pats’ out-of-region schedule continues in week five when they travel to Class 3A Greene County.

“That’s a real tricky kind of contest for a midseason game,” Williams said. “I just think that it’s a good football game to face some good athletes and somebody who is going to run the ball right at us.”

The Patriots round out their regular season with their third and final extra-region game at home against Aliceville, a team they have faced each of the last two years.

“It’s the sort of situation where you’re looking for a good game,” Williams said. “We think that Alicville is going to put some good athletes on the field. It’s a good game for us.”

Linden’s region schedule will start in week two when it travels to Fruitdale before heading home to host ALJ in week three. Week four will see the Pats travel to Sweet Water in a game that would likely prove to be the de facto region title game were it later in the season.

After its midseason rendezvous with Greene County, Linden plays four of its final five games at home including region tilts with McIntosh, Saint Luke’s and Marengo. The Pats final away game will be at Coffeevile in week seven.

“I like the being at home right there in that part of the schedule,” Williams said of the way the Pats will round out their regular season. “It’s set up like that for this year. We definitely will be tested early.”