The Patriots have amended their 2010 and 2011 football schedules to include week 10 dates with perennial Class 1A power and reigning state champion Brantley, the program that eliminated Linden from round three of the playoffs.

“It worked itself out with this being a transition year where we are changing our non-region schedule,” LHS head coach Andro Williams said.

The home-and-home series will see the Patriots take to the road in 2010 before welcoming Brantley in 2011.

“You’re going to get a playoff-type atmosphere in Brantley with a hostile environment,” Williams said. “Our kids are coming off the loss to Brantley and with them going on and winning the state championship, our kids should get up for that game.”

The date with Brantley replaces the previously-agreed-upon game between Linden and Aliceville, the team with which the Patriots have ended their last two regular seasons.

“It’s definitely, by far, the toughest overall (schedule) in my three-year tenure here,” Williams, who is 35-5 since taking over the Pats’ head coaching job in 2007, said.

That schedule also includes out-of-region dates with Central-Tuscaloosa and Greene County as well as region meetings with Sweet Water, McIntosh, Marengo, A.L. Johnson, Coffeeville, Fruitdale and Saint Luke’s.

“We know we’re going to play some physical teams week in and week out,” Williams said of a 2010 schedule that will offer the Pats only four home games. “You want to play people who do things the right way.”

Williams said his team is excited about the opportunity to play Brantley this season, but also understands it could see the Bulldogs again in the playoffs.

“You always have to take care of one game at a time,” Williams said. “We know it’s possible we could see them again in the semi-finals.”